Government Blamed For Lack Of Community Supports
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
February 21, 2003

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA--Since December 9, Jodie Goulding has been in Brisbane Women's Prison and the Wacol Crisis Support Unit, not because she has committed a crime, but because she has no place else to go, the Courier-Mail reported Friday.

Goulding, 21, was taken into custody after she spat on and exposed herself to a police officer. She has four other assault charges pending.

But the court was told that Goulding, who has autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Binder's Syndrome, was without the supports she needs to live in the community. Her service provider said that it had been trying to care for Goulding, but that nine placements over the last three years have deteriorated.

Goulding's situation prompted the Courier-Mail to condemn Disability Services Queensland for not supporting people with psychiatric and intellectual disabilities to live in the community.

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Reproduced here under special arrangement with Inclusion Daily Express disability rights news service.
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