Australian authorities have denied disabled Australia-born children the access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) because of their parents’ citizenship of New Zealand.

Severely disabled children born in Australia are being denied access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) because their parents are New Zealand citizens.

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Children born in Australia are being barred from accessing the National Disability Insurance Scheme because their parents are from New Zealand.



Access is denied to children born in Australia to Kiwi parents who are not eligible for Australian citizenship, until they turn 10.



New Zealand politicians are protesting and disability advocates say it's a clear case of discrimination 



Here's Natasha Robinson:



(Sound of child playing in park)

Peter Parry

A recent survey of paediatricians found they often lacked enough information to accurately diagnose an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. ASD is an important diagnosis not to miss. But it is equally important not to make the diagnosis when it is not truly present.

A recent survey of paediatricians found they often lacked enough information to accurately diagnose an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. ASD is an important diagnosis not to miss. But it is equally important not to make the diagnosis when it is not truly present.

A disability advocate, Ms Julie Phillips, wrote this letter (link here PDF 3.5Mb) to the David Bowen, CEO of the NDIA, about early intervention for autism spectrum disorder. The letter starts:

I refer to the recent article in The Australian earlier this week 'Autism Cost Estimates Wrong'.

The article in The Australian that she refers to is available here: Bob Buckley: NDIS autism cost estimates ‘wrong’

Sam Davis wants to groom elephants when he is older, taught himself to read before the age of five and is autistic.

These are just some of the elements that make the five-year-old who he is, says mother Jessica Davis, who has made it her mission to intervene as little as possible in his condition.

“Something we did from the diagnosis is say: no, this is Sam and this is who he is,” Ms Davis said. “We have tried from day dot to see how he operates in the world — he just has some differences.”

A4's Convenor sent A4's media release, autism groups want bullying in schools fixed, to the Commonwealth Minister and Shadow Minister for Education.

A4 also wrote to the Ministers and Shadow Ministers for Education in all the states and territories ...

by Andrew Whitehouse

From the moment a child is diagnosed with autism, their family enters the unknown. Conference halls are lined with salespeople, letterboxes are stuffed with pamphlets, and life is transformed into a whirlwind tour of a fantastical array of therapies and potions that are positioned as the “cure all” for their child’s difficulties.