endorsed letter: NDIA and challenging behaviour

From: Karna

Dear Mr Bowen

With the NDIS rolling out nationwide it is time for the NDIA and its parent policy agency, Dept. of Social Services to start making policy on a number of disability issues such as that of people with autism spectrum disorder and challenging behaviours such as aggression. These people are a large portion of your clients mainly in tier 3 and fall often into the too hard basket due to high support needs and very difficult behaviour. They are the clients most NGOs and other providers do not want as they are expensive and a hazard at times to staff and other clients. I have a son myself who at times falls into this group and am well aware of other “informal supports “doing it very tough with such adult or adolescent children usually males. ...

reasons autism teacher training was discontinued

Dear Bob

Thank you for your enquiry regarding the discontinuation of inclusive education in autism courses at the University of Canberra.

The decision was made to close the postgraduate course offerings in 2013-14 due to a lack of enrolments, with the ACT Department of Education no longer contracting the University to offer the Graduate Certificate.

submission on mistreatment of children in the Northern Territory juvenile detention system

The Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory
PO Box 4215,
Kingston ACT 2604

email: ChildDetentionNT@royalcommission.gov.au

Dear Commissioners

subject: submission on mistreatment of children in the Northern Territory juvenile detention system

deep disappointment: a response to Schools for All presentation

CC:
Subject:	Schools for All is very disappointing
Date:	Fri, 23 Sep 2016 16:18:38 +1000
From:	Bob Buckley (SOfASD Chair) <chair@sofasd.org.au>
Organization:	Speaking Out for Autism Spectrum Disorder (SOfASD) in the ACT
To:	SchoolsForAll@act.gov.au

Senior psychologists are highly experienced in behaviour management. Really?

Dear Mr Rattenbury

Thank you for your response to Bob Buckley (25/2/2016). He shared it with Speaking Out for Autism Spectrum Disorder (SOfASD).

While it seems the ACT Government plans some expenditure on issues arising from restraint of autistic students (or students with complex needs including behaviour, if you prefer) in ACT schools, SOfASD remains disappointed in what we can discern of the plans.

calls for more psychologists in schools

To:
Subject:	calls for more psychologists in schools
Date:	Tue, 2 Feb 2016 12:48:04 +1100
From:	Bob Buckley (SOfASD Chair) <chair@sofasd.org.au>
Organization:	Speaking Out for Autism Spectrum Disorder (SOfASD) in the ACT

Fwd: autism prevalence again

Dear Mr Barr MLA,

below is another letter expressing serious concern about the ACT Government's planning of services for autistic people in the ACT. Surely, autistic people in the ACT deserve better than this.

Our original letter on this matter is available online at: http://sofasd.org.au/d7/node/142

I attached a copy of the Minister's response.

yours sincerely,

special needs transport for autistic students in the ACT - responses

Below are responses to SOfASD's email to the ACT Government and to the NDIA ... see http://sofasd.org.au/d7/node/143

Most of the content is in the attached letters. You can download them using the links.

Basically, the gist of the matter is that ACT Eduction Directorate and the NDIA will be working out special needs transport for students in the ACT before it moves to the NDIA sometime soon. The Director for Families and Students wants to meet (SOfASD) to discuss concerns and hear experiences.

special needs transport for autistic students in the ACT

Dear Mr Barr MLA and Mr David Bowen (NDIA CEO),

Parents, families and carers have raised concerns about physical access to special needs education for autistic students in the ACT. Some autistic children need transport so they can access their school/education.

International law says children (which includes autistic children) have a right to free primary (and secondary) education. Children's education is the state's responsibility, not their parent's. Student must be able to access their education physically.

ACT Government gets autism prevalence very wrong

Dear Mr Barr MLA and Mr Rattenbury MLA

Speaking Out for Autism Spectrum Disorder (SOfASD), the systemic advocacy group for autism in the ACT, sees from the Minutes of the ACT Legislative Assembly that on 18/11/2015 the ACT Government moved and passed a motion saying:

“That this Assembly:

(1) notes:

Advocacy for ASD in Canberra/ACT