Capped funds for pupils with disabilities

By bobb |

Anna Patty Education Editor, SMH August 15, 2009

SCHOOL funding for students with special needs will be capped and no longer distributed according to the number of individual students, under NSW Department of Education proposals.

Principals and teachers are concerned that funding for students with autism and mental health disorders will be capped for the next three years at 2009 levels. The State Government plans to allocate grants based on the prevalence of disorders in the wider community.

No security for teachers of special needs pupils

By bobb |
  • Anna Patty Education Editor
  • April 29, 2009

ELIZABETH GAWTHORNE has spent 11 years working with children at Marrickville High School yet is still classed as a temporary employee.

As a school learning support officer, she works alongside classroom teachers, helping children with special needs.

While satisfying, the job provides no security from one year to the next. Further training opportunities are limited.

"I have 11 years of experience and can be told I'm not wanted next year," she said.

Have bike - and Asperger's - will travel to show bullies he's no idiot

By bobb |

April 15, 2009


Ethan Johnson ... cycled from Brisbane to Sydney over two weeks.

A 15-year-old Brisbane boy with Asperger's syndrome who disappeared for two weeks and rode his bike more than 950 kilometres to Sydney did it to prove to "bullies'' he wasn't an idiot, his mother says.

During his six-day, dawn-to-dusk haul down the east coast, Ethan Johnson slept at truck stops, under bridges and ate at fast-food restaurants.

Mrs kerrie Waldron

By Kerrie |

I was very interested in Gordon Drennan's letter to A4.

I wanted to say "here, here!"

Although only a parent, I mirror his frustration ( having had my son put into a limiting "diagnostic box.")

 

As a parent .............of a 14 year old (diagnosed at 9) ASD son, I have observed over the years of our interactions with Mental health professionals, ancillary Education professionals (his teachers were terrific) and mainstream medical personnel an astounding lack of appreciation for my son as a fully fledged HUMAN BEING with feelings and intellect.

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