In the wake of revelations an autistic Canberra student was confined in a cage-like structure, former disability discrimination commissioner Graeme Innes says such abuses are widespread and has called for a broad inquiry into the treatment of children with disabilities in the nation's schools.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten immediately backed Mr Innes' call, declaring: "we cannot assume this is a one off case".

Mr Innes, who served as the nation's disability discrimination commissioner from 2005 until last year, said such "appalling" incidents were not confined to the ACT.

Children in classrooms being locked away. Coming home from school with  bruises from being physically restrained. 

It's a horror you might read about happening in some awful foreign town. But it happened here, in Australia. In NSW.

Autism experts have lamented reports a 10-year-old boy was placed in a cage at a Canberra primary school, saying it signals a national standard for autism education in mainstream schools is urgently required.

ACT Education Minister Joy Burch confirmed the unacceptable "withdrawal space" had been built in a classroom to deal with a student with challenging behaviour.

Experts respond to recent reports that a 10-year-old autistic boy was placed in a cage at his Canberra primary school.

By Matthew Doran

Autism experts have lamented reports a 10-year-old boy was placed in a cage at a Canberra primary school, saying it signals a national standard for autism education in mainstream schools is urgently required.

Advocates are pushing for young people diagnosed with autism to receive more targeted support in their hunt for full-time work.

While youth unemployment is high across the board, more than half of Australia's young people with high functioning autism are out of work.

Marking World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, advocates are arguing more autism-specific employment services are needed.

Brisbane teenager Angus Ewin, who is autistic and dyslexic, has discovered his passion is making jewellery and hopes to soon make it a career.

by Tim Dodd

Each week we bring you the latest about massive open online courses (MOOCs) and online delivery, the phenomena that are revolutionising education.

Clare Colley

Reporter at The Canberra Times

Bureaucratic "gobbledygook", a lack of respite and transport funding, and inexperienced planners are just some of the problems creating anxiety around the National Disability Insurance Scheme, participants have told a public hearing into the ACT roll-out.

THIS is for the mother at the supermarket who told me to “control your child” and the elderly lady who took it upon herself to tell my son “oh you are being a naughty boy”.

And to everyone else who stares at us each and every day; everyone who has rolled their eyes or made rude remarks about my son.

My 5-year-old son is not naughty, he has autism.

The future of six childcare centres that support autistic children has been secured, with Tony Abbott announcing more than $16 million in funding to keep them operating for at least 3½ years.

The Prime Minister’s announcement came just in time for childcare manager Kathryn Fordyce, who was concerned she would lose staff while waiting for new funds for her centre in Burnie, northwest Tasmania.