The following list shows A4's recent advocacy. This list contains both publications (including briefs and submissions) and communications (letters & emails).

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meeting request to Disability Minister - 5/11/2015

By convenor |

Dear The Hon. Christian Porter MP

Recent media reports mention the increasing number of people being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and the possible impact on the NDIS. Apparently, more people are diagnosed with autism than the NDIA expected … especially in South Australia.

There are a number of issues relating to autism that we would like to raise with you. These include:

  1. autism and the NDIS … particularly increasing numbers of diagnoses and the NDIA's minimal consultation with the autism community;

CEDAW: autistic women and mothers

By bobb |

Presentation by Monique Blakemore to CEDAW, United Nations 30th October 2015 

Autistic women are a marginalised sector of the worlds largest minority group, the disabled community. There is an estimated 51,870,000 autistic women worldwide, a similar population to England.

Autistic women are subjected to systemic disadvantage in most areas of their lives. Autistic women experience exclusion socially, in education, in their personal lives, in the judicial system and in access to healthcare. Autistic leadership, exemplified by organizations such as Autism Women Matter, the Scottish Women’s Autism Network (SWAN) and Alliance Autiste, is necessary to challenge stigma and discrimination. 

Real, effective, and meaningful participation of autistic people, regardless of gender, is encapsulated in the phrase ‘nothing about us without us’ and is the aim of the autistic rights movement. Representation of autistic people by groups and individuals is frequently unfunded and unsupported. Unfortunately, ‘tokenism’, which is the illusion of consultation, is over-representative of the autistic advocacy experience. Autistic voices can be crowded out by those of professionals and parent caregivers that love and support us, but may see autism through their own experience. 

submission to Victorian Education Inquiry

By bobb |

A4 made a submission to Victoria'a review of its Program for Students with Disabilities. 

As well as answering the question raised in the reviews discussion paper, the submission (link below) has a short section on the very topical issue of behaviour management for autistic students , and an extended discussion of Inclusive Education for autistic students in Annex B.

A4's submission to Senate Standing Committee on Education and Employment

By bobb |

A4's submission, Going nowhere, to the Committee's Inquiry into Current levels of access and attainment for students with disability in the school system, and the impact on students and families associated with inadequate levels of support can be downloaded from the Committee's website (it's number 226) or from here. 

Submission on National Disability Advocacy Framework

By convenor |

To the DSS advocacy and access team,

Thank you for the opportunity to provide input to your review of the National Disability Advocacy Framework.

Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia, known as A4, is a nation organisation that focuses on systemic advocacy for the growing number of people living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Australia. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimates that the number of Australians with ASD over recent times has been …

year 1998 2003 2009 2012
autism '000s 13.2 30.4 64.4 115.4
5 year growth   2.3 1.9 2.6
severe & profound   87% 74% 73%

 

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), most people who are diagnosed with ASD have severe or profound disability.

THE UNCOUNTED COSTS: CHOICE AND CONTROL FOR PEOPLE WITH BEHAVIOURS OF CONCERN

By bobb |
This study explores how the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can best ensure that people with behaviours of concern are offered choice and control in the emerging disability support market.

Summary

Using the experiences of two provider organisations – Anglicare Tasmania and Optia – the research examines what is involved in providing support for people with behaviours of concern. Behaviours of concern can include verbal and physical aggression, damage to property and vehicles and self injurious behaviours. Behaviours of concern are often volatile and can change from day-to-day.

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