Although he qualified for the state finals as a student with special needs, the NSW Education Department determined he was not eligible to participate.
The choice has drawn attention to the state's policies regarding students with disabilities in sports.
"We were deeply disappointed that Charlie was left out," his father Owen Cox stated.Channel Seven.
We are hoping for some form of government action. Let's cross our fingers for a positive change.
The count of autistic individuals in Australia increased by 41.8% between 2018 and 2022, totaling 290,900 people, which represents 1.1% of the population, as reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that influences how an individual communicates, socializes, and perceives their surroundings.
It is considered a disability in Australia through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS); nevertheless, financial support is available only for the most severe cases within the spectrum.
Since autism is a spectrum, each case can vary significantly.
Although some children might experience delays in development or challenges with motor skills, sensory processing, social engagement, and thinking abilities, others can excel in sports when given the right assistance and adjustments.
Notable autistic athletes such as NBA player Tony Snell, NFL player Joe Barksdale, and Major League Baseball star Jim Eisenreich have reached the top tier of their respective sports.
The range has made it difficult to establish an autism classification.
"Because of this, adding an autism category for the sports of athletics and cross country is not possible within the Representative School Sport Pathway," the NSW Department of Education informed Charlie's family.
There are no officially acknowledged standards to ensure equitable and uniform calculation of outcomes.
Other provinces and regions that have established local arrangements for involvement do so beyond the official School Sport Australia system, and there is no equitable or uniform method for determining outcomes, nor a clear route to the next stage of representation.
Your issue has been noted, and we want to assure you that the NSW Department of Education continues to support greater participation via national sports organizations like Athletics Australia.
" He is very eager [to run]," his mother Sasha said to Radio 2GB host Ben Fordham.
He keeps questioning, 'Am I allowed to run? Am I allowed to run?
It's devastating to have to inform him that we don't have answers and must wait for more information.
But I attempt to steer him towards possibly taking up tennis next year, so I am already preparing him for that.
Fordham expressed his surprise that there isn't a specific category for children with ASD, considering the quick increase in the number of Australians affected by the condition.
"That would be logical, wouldn't it?" Sasha replied.
But regrettably, it hasn't turned out that way, and it's not truly inclusive for autistic athletes in athletics.
Fordham inquired of Sasha what the concept of competition meant to her son.
"He is very proud of himself. It's the pride, the self-awareness, and the ability to motivate him to push further," she said.
It has significantly contributed to his personal development and ability to adjust.
Cognitive skills are permitted to vie with one another.
The guys he was facing will be there on Wednesday, so yes, they are included.
But not Charlie, not autism, unfortunately.
Fordham mentioned that it seemed as though Athletics Australia had placed Charlie's case in the 'too difficult' category.
"Is it excessive to arrange?" Sasha inquired.
Perhaps they should communicate with different organizations and observe how they implement their policies regarding autism and classify individuals.
I'm not entirely certain, but there must be some action that can be taken, right?
Charlie has garnered significant support, with many Australians asserting that his exclusion was unfair.
"He won the race and earned a spot to continue, but due to his autism, he was disqualified from competing? What a ridiculous situation, he has autism, he's not from another planet," one person wrote.
"He is entitled to run, just allow him to do so," another person stated.
Some mentioned that due to the autism spectrum, it wasn't as straightforward to develop an ASD classification.
"I'm autistic, I understand what they're saying. It's too broad a spectrum and they haven't defined it properly yet," one person from Australia shared on social media.
Numerous commenters shared the view that Charlie should be permitted to participate, rather than being excluded due to the absence of a specific category for him.
"Even though there are no specific categories for various disabilities, it doesn't mean they should be left out," a follower commented.
"It's terrible that he can't compete because there's no classification for autistic athletes, but why can't he just join the 'able-bodied class' with everyone else?" asked another person.
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