Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia

Mr Robert De Luca

CEO of the National Disability Insurance Agency

Dear Mr De Luca

Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia, known as A4, is the national grass-roots advocacy group representing autistic people and others living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A4 and others in the ASD community have tried to engage with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) from the outset. But there has been very little progress.

Adam McCrimmon, University of Calgary

I often get asked “Does my child have Asperger’s?” in my clinical work. Or, “Do I have Asperger’s?”

These are challenging questions to answer. They have stimulated much debate among clinicians, researchers, and those who have identify with the term over the past several years.

There is a related Change.org petition you can sign: https://www.change.org/p/pru-goward-don-t-let-the-ndis-leave-kids-homel…

Jade Macmillan

Parents of children with severe disabilities in NSW are "terrified" they could lose access to around-the-clock care due to a funding stoush between the State Government and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

About 1,000 children with disabilities access voluntary out-of-home care across the state, including overnight respite services and residential placements.

Talissa Siganto

Queensland's Police Commissioner says he backs the officers who shot a teenager in the chest after a domestic dispute on Wednesday afternoon.

Jai Hunt, 16, was allegedly threatening police officers with a knife when they arrived at his home in Springfield, south-west of Brisbane.

The Police Union maintains officers had no option but to shoot Jai.

Dear Minister and Assistant Minister

Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia, known as A4, recently received a very inadequate response (MC17-001434) to our emails to you dated 5/11/2017 and 11/12/2017. Our emails to you expressed extensive concerns about the NDIS and specifically its approach to early intervention for autistic children.

Ms Christine Faulkner, General Manager of the NDIS, says: “The Assistant Minister has asked me to reply to you on her behalf”.

The result must be so disheartening for you. Ms Faulkner’s response to us, on your behalf, is so disappointing for a collection of reasons.

A response (of sorts) to this letter can be seen at http://a4.org.au/node/1654 (it is also very disappointing).

LINA ZELDOVICH

Starting next year, clinicians worldwide may be using a new, streamlined set of criteria to diagnose autism.

Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing

The Andrews Labor Government will invest more than $22 million as an immediate response to the Inquiry into Services for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley today announced the funding would cover eight priority areas of action to be addressed as part of a comprehensive Autism Plan.

Dear The Hon Jane Prentice MP

Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia, known as A4, recently received a copy of a letter (MC17-001051, 16/11/2017) that you sent to Ms Prue Car MP. The Hon Ms Car MP passed the letter on to her constituents. Eventually, A4 received a copy.

Your letter said ...

A4 appreciates the report from the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the NDIS resulting from its Inquiry into Early Intervention. The report was released on 7/12/2017. Notable observations from the report include:

Emergency intervention to remove disabled man left in prison after NDIS providers refused to care for him

By Louise Milligan

VIDEO: Francis is in jail because no disability provider would care for him and he had nowhere else to go. (ABC News)