![Canberra's educational disadvantage hotspots have been revealed.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170702122428im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/f/r/n/7/image.related.landscape.380x253.gwyk49.png/1498793364310.jpg)
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Starting school when you have autism
As kindergarten students of 2013 complete their first school year, a new crop of children are getting ready for their turn at this pivotal milestone.
![Autism](http://web.archive.org./web/20170702122428im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/2/j/h/m/o/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.2jhlc.gjzq3k.png/1444265913192.jpg)
Scheme will cover cost of autism treatment
The national disability insurance scheme will cover ''most'' people with autism and could pay the full cost of early intervention programs, Disability Reform Minister Jenny Macklin has declared in the latest clue as to what the $22 billion-a-year scheme will cover.
![embrace](http://web.archive.org./web/20170702122428im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/2/h/i/f/x/image.related.landscape.120x80.2hiez.gjzq3k.png/1444265913192.jpg)
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![Students with additional learning needs face myriad difficulties.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170702122428im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/3/j/h/w/w/image.related.landscape.120x80.11g63k.gjzq3k.png/1444362815959.jpg)
!["To me, Jack was my next handyman project."](http://web.archive.org./web/20170702122428im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/d/3/l/5/image.related.landscape.120x80.gjiago.gjzq3k.png/1444641712812.jpg)
Children with autism
How I learned to let go of the urge to 'fix' my son
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'Parents, educate your kids about children with special needs': heartbroken mum's plea
Devastated after witnessing her son being ignored over and over during a trip to the local pool, one mum has taken to Facebook in an open letter in the hope of educating people.
![Lauren McCabe with her mum, Rebecca Lynn McCabe.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170702122428im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/k/o/8/r/image.related.landscape.300x200.gwja59.png/1496651726661.png)
'Thank you for drugging me': woman's powerful note to mother
A young woman who was diagnosed with ADHD as a child has penned a powerful letter of gratitude to the mother who "drugged" her.
![Jack Baulch, his beloved rabbit Gushi and his mother Katrina Baulch. Jack has autism, ADHD and oppositional defiance ...](http://web.archive.org./web/20170702122428im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/g/5/v/b/image.related.landscape.300x200.gwg8hv.png/1496263822864.jpg)
Parents' classroom-support fight for children with disabilities
Desperate parents are shopping for a label for their children's disability in a bid to secure vital classroom support.
![Angus says his school stopped inviting him to excursions.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170702122428im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/f/c/x/e/image.related.landscape.300x200.gwfer5.png/1496191095763.jpg)
Disabled students excluded from excursions
Sometimes when Angus arrived at school, his classroom was empty. All the students were on an excursion, except for him.
![<i></i>](http://web.archive.org./web/20170702122428im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/c/v/w/b/image.related.landscape.300x200.gwcv9w.png/1495761891535.jpg)
Blind boy thanks Nintendo for making a game he can play
He got a reply from the gaming giant; in Braille.
![Kayla Sterchow, who has high-functioning autism and epilepsy, is studying at the University of Canberra.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170702122428im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/7/o/a/h/image.related.landscape.300x200.gw8ctw.png/1495247820376.jpg)
Canberra student with autism proves teachers wrong
Canberra student Kayla Sterchow says people with autism feel stigmatised.
![<i></i>](http://web.archive.org./web/20170702122428im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/w/e/y/j/image.related.landscape.300x200.gvwefe.png/1493688755457.jpg)
'I can remember every single day of my life'
Rebecca Sharrock is one of about 60 people in the world identified as having a very unusual memory Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory, which means she is unable to forget any day of her life and is constantly reliving her past.
![Kathy Lette with her son Julius.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170702122428im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/w/2/h/l/image.related.landscape.300x200.gvssam.png/1495421350152.jpg)
The question about my son's virginity I never thought I'd ask
"So, how much to initiate my son sexually?" are just not the words a law-abiding, middle-aged mum ever expects to say.
!['Yes my husband is in a wheelchair, but he takes our kids camping, skiing and mountain biking.'](http://web.archive.org./web/20170702122428im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/u/p/7/0/image.related.landscape.300x200.gvup9u.png/1493356451932.jpg)
The challenges of parenting with a disability are not what you think they are
Having a disabled parent can teach children understanding, compassion and empathy, about diversity, and that yes, sometimes life is hard.
![<i></i>](http://web.archive.org./web/20170702122428im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/t/o/d/e/image.related.landscape.300x200.gvtojc.png/1493267739722.jpg)
Dad's Blockbuster effort for son with autism
What did devoted dad Hector Zuniga do when his son's favourite store closed down leaving the 20-year-old, who has autism, devastated? He built him a new one, of course.
![The room is designed to provide a calm environment.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170702122428im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/p/p/j/q/image.related.landscape.300x200.gvhm3j.png/1492943948798.jpg)
Airport launches sensory room for children with autism
In a European first, Shannon Airport in Ireland has launched a sensory room for children and families with autism and special needs.
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