Autistic Spectrum Digest (Autism) Issue 14, December 2014 | Page 8

The  News  in  Review Rome,  Italy       Pope   Francis   met   with   children   with   au7sm   as   well  as  their  parents  in  a  conference  that  will  be   held  at  the  Va7can  star7ng  today.     The  conference,  hosted  by  the  Va7can’s  health   office,   is   reportedly   one   of   the   biggest   conferences   to   be   held   on   au7sm   awareness,   gathering   around   650   au7sm   experts   from   37   different  countries.    Disabled  Kept  in  Cages  in  Greece     A   disturbing   report   from   Chloe   Hadjimatheou   from   the   BBC   found   that   Greece’s   most   vulnerable   ci7zens   have   been   subjected   to   dire   condi7ons   that   have   been   made   even   worse  due  to  the  country’s  economic  difficul7es.  She  found  that  federally  funded  centres   are   grossly   understaffed,   forcing   administrators   to   resort   to   strategies   many   would   find   inhumane,  including  keeping  individuals  locked  up  in  cages.   8