cruel NDIS policy targets the most autistic and vulnerable NDIS participants

By convenor |

NDIS policy (AAT Case Management Guide Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) - see below) fails some of the youngest and most severely autistic NDIS participants. Clinicians advise that some children with severe/profound or classic autism need intensive early intervention for their autism. NDIS policy (see below) says funding for the required early intervention depends on families winning a case against the government in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).

Minister Rishworth: autism-related issues and concerns

By convenor |

Subject:meeting request - autism-related issues and concerns

Date:Mon, 4 Mar 2024 12:13:40 +1100

From:Bob Buckley (Co-convenor) <convenor@a4.org.au>

To:Amanda.Rishworth.MP@aph.gov.au

Dear Minister Rishworth

please find attached a letter from our disability representative organisation (DRO) for autism requesting a meeting to discuss our serious concerns about policies and programs for autistic Australians.

I look for to your response. If you have any questions, I can be reached via email or mobile 0418677288.

about Inklings

By bobb |

Heidi La Paglia Reid

So in the neurodivergent space lately, everyone is talking ⭐️Inklings⭐️

If you don’t know, the context is that the Federal Labor government committed $14.8 million last week to a trial in South Australia which is: “designed to provide crucial assistance to parents and caregivers in understanding the needs of infants between the ages of six to 18 months who exhibit early signs of autism.”

As stated on the official website, “The Inklings Program has been developed over a decade by an international team of health professionals and researchers interested in reducing disability associated with autism.”

Minister Shorten: 40 hours of therapy for some (autistic) children

By convenor |

Subject:RE: 40 hours of therapy for some (autistic) children [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Date:Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:52:08 +0000

From:Minister Shorten <Minister.Shorten@dss.gov.au>

To:convenor@a4.org.au <convenor@a4.org.au>

CC:Minister Shorten <Minister.Shorten@dss.gov.au>

Good morning  Mr Buckley

Thank you for your email below dated 25 February 2024, received in Minister Shorten’s office 26 February 2024.

Kind regards

Office of the Hon. Bill Shorten MP

What the Australian National Autism Strategy Needs to Achieve to Make It Meaningful To Autistic People:

By bobb |

Nicholas Eugene Glover
Autistic Elder: National Autistic Community Connect Developer.

Hopefully, sometime in March 2024, the Government will release its Draft Autism Strategy document. This Strategy will affect more than half a million Autistic lives (2024).

The U.K. released their first National Strategy in 2010. So we are a fair way behind in this regard. Hence, the Australian Autism Strategy needs to be sound, transparent, very well-thought-out, well funded, and ambitious. Autistic people need to have the opportunity to review the Draft Strategy.

It's about time: NDIS Commission boss who 'failed at every turn' resigns

By bobb |

Miriam Webber

NDIS Commission boss Tracy Mackey will step down from the role in May, after a tumultuous 12 months for the agency.

Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill Shorten announced Ms Mackey's resignation in a statement on Tuesday, saying the government was working to "build a better NDIS disability watchdog".

Mr Shorten's statement did not say why Ms Mackey was leaving the role, but thanked her for her time at the commission, and wished her well.

The Brit who predicted the NDIS disaster a decade ago

By convenor |

Tom Burton

Dr Simon Duffy warned a decade ago that the design of the national disability insurance scheme created perverse incentives, leaving it flawed from day one.

The British social policy reformer who warned a decade ago that the design of Australia’s national disability insurance scheme was flawed from the start and would be expensive and unsustainable said his worst fears have come true.