Australian child with profound disabilities languishes in respite facility for adults

From The Australian:

A family who relinquished care of their profoundly disabled eight-year-old son say it's unacceptable he's been left in a respite facility for adults.

Struggling to provide their son with the level of care he needed, Rebecca and Scott Blinman gave up the care of Aaron to the NSW Government six months ago.

The Newcastle couple said they made the decision in the best interests of Aaron, as well as their other three children, including a younger daughter who has cerebral palsy and is vision impaired.

But six months later Aaron is still without a permanent home and is staying in a respite facility meant for adults.

"We would like this to be resolved," Rebecca Blinman said today.

"We want Aaron to be placed somewhere that is safe and friendly and in a permanent environment where he can still maintain contact with his family."

Aaron had been placed with a host family, but the arrangement broke down due to the demanding nature of his disabilities.

Mrs Blinman said her son only sleeps two to four hours a night, which can take its toll.

"When Aaron's awake, everybody in our household is awake," she said.

"He's not a quiet person when he's awake."

He also has to be fed through a pump straight into his stomach.

Opposition disability services spokesman Andrew Constance said current guidelines in NSW prevented the placement of children in group home arrangements.

However, he said the failure to find any other arrangements for Aaron meant the state government must consider all options.

But Disability Services Minister Paul Lynch said a group home was no substitute for a family environment for a child as young as Aaron.

Mr Lynch said his department was doing all it could to find him a host family.

"I understand the parents' concern about his situation and share their desire for Aaron to have a stable and permanent placement," he said in a statement.

"An eight-year-old boy should be able to enjoy, and be part of, the everyday life that families have."

Mr Lynch said until a host family was found the department would continue to support the boy's needs including ensuring he has personal care from staff who read to him, play games with him and take him to medical appointments.