Will Australia's flawed disability support system be reformed in time to save families now at breaking point?

See video, transcript, extended interview and audience forum at http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20100215/disability/

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This week saw the release of a draft of the next edition of the main diagnostic bible used in psychiatry, the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

The long process ‘by committee’ has been controversial, and in a first for the American Psychiatric Association (APA), a draft has been made public for people to read and feedback on here. They even have a Facebook page, with a call for fans.

Here’s what the chairs of the APA’s DSM-5 taskforce have to say to you:

Psychology Today's 'Asperger's Diary' blogger, Lynne Soraya, reflects powerfully on what this means to her, and on the confusion and clarity
of labels. Read her full post here.

The recent Federal Court decision in the matter Commissioner of Taxation v Aid/Watch Incorporated 2009 says
that an advocacy and lobbying organisation, such as A4, cannot be seen as a charitable for tax purposes.

Such a decision has major implications about how advocacy groups operate.

Here are some links to commentary on the issue ...

The presentation below was given at APAC'09 in Sydney. Among other things, it shows the growing number of children whose family get's Carer Allowance (that is, children who have been formally diagnosed with Autistic or Asperger's Disorders and also registered to receive Carer Allowance).

Previously, a paper on autism prevalence in Australia was published in the peer reviewed proceedings of the 2004 Biennial Australian Autism conference (see http://a4.org.au/sites/default/files/buckley_submit2.pdf).

Media Release

BILL SHORTEN MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services
Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction

Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Australian Government has given its support to a National Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Register to better track the incidence of the condition in Australia.

Bill Shorten, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, today announced the Register at the Asia Pacific Autism Conference 2009.

Verity Edwards, September 14, 2009, from: The Australian

A WORLD-FIRST study on siblings of children with autism is showing that signs associated with the behavioural disorder appear in babies in their first weeks of life.

The Flinders University research is the first of its kind to study the behaviour of infants who have an increased risk of developing autism from as young as 10 days, and to revisit the children every second month until they are 18 months old.

Stuart Rintoul | September 09, 2009, Article from:  The Australian

AN estimated 10 per cent of Australians, or two million people, suffered from two or more disabilities, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

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