Reports: Cage used for autistic student was not an isolated case.

“These cases are not the norm, but they are not isolated either.”

An incident in which a boy with autism was placed inside a cage at a Canberra primary school is just one example of a more ubiquitous problem, according to the peak body for children with a disability. It came as reports of other similar cases emerged on social media.

READ MORE: Autism experts condemn ACT school’s “classroom cage”.

Children with Disability Australia (CDA) chief executive Stephanie Gotlib said her organisation had received an increased number of reports of students with disability being subjected to restrictive practices in schools.

“These cases are not the norm, but they are not isolated either,” she said.

The comments were made in response to reports a 10-year-old boy with autism was placed in a two-metre by two-metre, cage-like structure made of pool fencing termed a “withdrawal space” by authorities, at a school in Canberra.

RELATED: The incredibly scary thing Australian parents are doing to “cure” their kids of autism.

In the wake of the news an investigation was launched by the ACT Government and the school principal was stood down.

Parents who said their children had experienced similar incidents took to social media to share their stories.

Responding to an ABC News story posted on Facebook, one Canberra woman told of a similar incident experienced by her son.

“My son was locked in a broom closet at a high school here in Canberra and we were asked to pay for the window that he broke. He has autism. And the school did not think that it was wrong. I pulled him out very quickly!!!!” the Facebook post said.

Another woman told of a situation in which her child was strapped into a chair bolted to the floor.

“Disappointing. I saw a pool fenced small area being used the same way in the playground of a special school in Melbourne years ago. Only recently stopped my son’s special school using a time out chair in a separate room – chair bolted to the floor and my son belted in,” she said.

There were also calls for police charges when such incidents occurred:

“The police need to lay charges against the cruel people that did this. No amount of training could help someone with this mentality. My heart goes out to the children and families that have experienced this.”

Ms Gotlib said it was a clear indication that the system was not adequately meeting the needs of students with disability.

IN OTHER NEWS: Nine-year-old Tyrone might be deported. Because he has autism.

“CDA hears about students with disability’s poor education outcomes and experiences on a daily basis,” she said.

“It is absolutely vital that teachers and schools can access the expertise and resources needed to ensure a quality education can be provided to students with disability.

“Cultural change is also needed so that there is no longer a culture of low expectations for students with disability. None of this reform can occur without a much needed boost in funding.”

Other autism experts also lamented reports of the cage incident in Canberra, saying it signals a national standard for autism education in mainstream schools was urgently required.

This article was originally published by ABC online. It has been republished here with full permission.