Danielle Cahill-Gray

Proud papa moment: my son J published a letter in the @nytimes.com today (in print tomorrow) on the need to think our definitions of autism.

Gallery celebrates secret artist hidden in plain sight A country Victorian art gallery has surprised local artist Hamish Elsmann with an exhibition of work he never knew it was keeping. The community response has changed his life.

Beautiful story about Hamish an #autistic artist given a surprise exhibition- "He gave them his heart, but they've given him a place in society," Johan said. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

It’s giving us language to understand these things & talk about it as a family. I often say to my children that sensory aversions are not logical they just are & it’s totally fine to not like something. But if you can tell mama why then it helps for next time.

This is way better than my first thought which was to add more garlic 🤦‍♀️ I will try this next time - she loves Parmesan. The book is very interesting and I have mentioned it to folks who know kiddos with sensory food aversions and issues. Appreciate the response btw!

@mbrobergmoffitt.bsky.social we tried the lasagna and our youngest (5) didn’t like the Bechamel sauce. Said it was too plain.Any ideas/suggestions? Maybe a deconstructed version for her is worth a try. Do you just cook/boil up the lasagna sheets like regular pasta for that one?

Parents and advocates caught off guard following Thriving Kids announcement Parents and advocates call for reassurance their kids won’t be left behind under a new Thriving Kids program announced by NDIS Minister Mark Butler.

This is an interesting look at Thriving Kids and why many in our community are struggling with the changes to the #NDIS for #autistic children www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

Opinion | The Playbook Used to ‘Prove’ Vaccines Cause Autism (Gift Article) Data can easily be manipulated to show causation that doesn’t exist.

How to recognize shoddy studies that claim to link vaccines and autism. Essay by @unbiasedscipod.bsky.social Gift link: nyti.ms/3UUNrIp

Audio Descriptions - Behind The News Thanks to Reece, BTN now has Audio Descriptions... but what are they?

Great story here from Reece on the ABC’s Behind the News adding audio captions and why it matters him and others who are blind or visually impaired www.abc.net.au/btn/classroo... #accessible #disabled

Me too. Will try them again at the weekend

@mbrobergmoffitt.bsky.social we baked the scrolls at the weekend. I didn’t have a deep tray so they looked odd but the kids loved them and asked me to make more!

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Definitely a good resource I will look at for my autistic children.

Food aversion — A spectrum of distaste - ABC listen Eating can be a simple pleasure, but for some it's a struggle. Food aversions manifest in many ways, from simple picky eating to outright disgust. Very few of us don't have at least one or two foods t...

Fascinating audio here about food aversions, which begins with a long chat with an autistic chef about his experiences. It includes the cookbook he has written for neurodivergent folks and picky eaters. There is also a look at the neuroscience of food aversions. www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Ambulances can cause sensory overload, but a new toolkit could help Ambulance Victoria releases a toolkit to teach paramedics how to make adjustments at work to help staff and patients who are neurodiverse.

Fantastic to see Ambulance Victoria developing a toolkit for neuro-inclusion to help #neurodivergent staff and patients www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07... - What adjustments do you think are needed?

GPs set to diagnose ADHD, but say appointments unlikely to be bulk-billed A number of states have indicated they will soon allow GPs to diagnose ADHD, but doctors warn patients may still face out-of-pocket costs or have difficulty accessing prescriptions.

Really interesting article here (via Kate O’Halloran) on the knock on effects of changes in some states that will allow GPs to diagnose and treat ADHD. Adding it here as some may find it useful/ www.abc.net.au/news/health/...

Mum says she feels let down by SA government's autism strategy The mother of a child who featured in a state government autism announcement says she feels "let down" as her son struggles in the school system.

"He doesn't qualify for Special Ed, but he doesn't fit in mainstream but there's nothing for our kids in-between. It's a grey area, he's now at the point where he's experienced a major burnt out, autistic burnout, and major regression." www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06... #AcutallyAutistic

Outback teen selected for NASA program in Texas Broken Hill teenager Molly Molloy is set for an out-of-this-world experience after being selected as one of only two Australians to join an international space education program in the US.

“Broken Hill student Molly Molloy has been selected to participate in a US-based space education program” www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...

5yo girl with growth in ear told to wait five months for scan A Sydney mother is calling for change after being told her daughter with disability would have to wait five months for a scan her doctor said was urgent.

"In most parts of Australia, there's simply nowhere to refer if someone with intellectual or developmental disability needs a blood test under sedation or even just with additional psychological support” www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...

Kathy has terminal cancer and cares for her son with a profound disability. At a crisis point, his NDIS funding ran out As the national disability insurance scheme undergoes changes, advocates say participants have become collateral damage, placing their carers in impossible situations

"Gibbs says the delays mean people in crisis are falling through the cracks, as is the case for the Riegers – Steven’s (NDIS) funding running out while Kathy is dying worsens the family’s situation." www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

I hate the term patient. ADHD (like ASD) is not an illness or disease. It's a neurodivergence or a difference. We need greater acceptance and accommodations, not cures. But yes, i understand that Doctors have patients.

Truly that’s a valid point. Thanks for raising it.

Will new reforms improve ADHD diagnosis and treatment for patients? - ABC listen Getting an ADHD diagnosis can totally depend on where you live and how much you can afford. For many people, that means long waits and big bills. But NSW is about to shake things up.  Soon, you’ll be...

Really interesting chat here btw... Will new reforms improve ADHD diagnosis and treatment for patients? www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Perth mother's plea to stop bullying of son with Tourette syndrome Half of all children with a tic-related disorder like Tourette syndrome have thought about ending their life, with a new report showing bullying is a main contributing factor.

♿️CW: suicidal ideation "A new report by the Kids Research Institute Australia and the University of New South Wales found one in two children with a tic-related disorder have thought about ending their life." www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...

MAHA decided that pregnant people shouldn't have access to the Covid vaccine, despite research showing that Covid contributes to stillbirths, miscarriages & other harms to the fetus

At the same time, abortion bans mean you can be arrested for miscarrying

Pregnancy getting more dangerous everyday

A Harvard scientist built a database of 2,100 NIH grant terminations. Then his own funding was cut Harvard's Scott Delaney helped build a database of NIH grant terminations that is being used in litigation against the Trump administration.

A Harvard scientist built a database of 2,100 NIH grant terminations. Then his own funding was cut
www.statnews.com/2025/05/27/n...

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GPs in NSW will soon be able to diagnose, treat ADHD patients Under reforms to be announced by the state government, general practitioners will be able to diagnose and treat both children and adults with ADHD.

NSW is set to become the second state to allow GPs to diagnose and treat both adults and children with #ADHD www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05...

Trump, RFK Jr. are pushing psychiatric confinement, not mental health care It would be a terrifying return to the policies of the 19th and early 20th centuries, when individuals could be committed to remote state institutions for decades with little to no due process or l…

“Cutting mental health funding while promoting coercion is not care at all — it is a terrifying return to the policies of the 19th and early 20th centuries…” thehill.com/opinion/heal...

When Kate had a Deaf child, she made a decision others might not have When Kate and Dan Walls found out their daughter Charlie was deaf, they knew it wasn't something they wanted to fix and move on from. Instead, they've embraced it.

"I really felt like it was Charlie's birth right to have sign language as part of her life and to have access to the Deaf community," Kate said. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05...

AI is now used for audio description. But it should be accurate and actually useful for people with low vision For AI to be beneficial in accessibility tech, the people who use it must be involved in its development.

New piece in The Conversation today from Kathryn Locke and me:

"AI is now used for audio description. But it should be accurate and actually useful for people with low vision" theconversation.com/...

#accessability #audiodescription #artificialintelligence