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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Interventions for children on the autism spectrum: A synthesis of research evidence

By bobb | Tue, 10/11/2020 - 11:15

Dear person

Based on your previous interest in our publication the National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism, I am writing to let you know we have just published a new landmark report for families, clinicians, researchers and policy makers, which synthesises the best available high-quality evidence about interventions for children on the autism spectrum aged up to 12 years.

Autism behind bars

By bobb | Tue, 10/11/2020 - 00:00

Andrew Beasley was quickly losing his cool. It was October 2015, and he was about two years into his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution, Fort Dix in New Jersey.

Beasley, then 32, had left his MP3 player on a charging station in the facility’s computer room, but when he went to retrieve it, it was gone. He thought he knew who had it and frantically started to look for the man.

“I’m forgetting politics. I’m forgetting everything. I’m just looking for my MP3 player,” says Beasley, who had been diagnosed with autism two years earlier.

mental health support for autistic Australians - unanswered questions

By convenor | Sun, 1/11/2020 - 08:01
Subject: Fwd: mental health support for autistic Australians
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2020 07:51:28 +1100
From: Bob Buckley (A4 Convenor) <convenor@a4.org.au>
To: Minister.Hunt@health.gov.au

The Hon Greg Hunt MP
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives, Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Dear Minister The Hon Greg Hunt MP

Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (A4) has not received a response to the email below. This means A4's Unanswered Questions policy comes into effect.

Report - Public hearing 4 - Healthcare for people with cognitive disability

By bobb | Thu, 22/10/2020 - 11:43

The Disability Royal Commission released a report summarising its public hearing #4 that is about Health care for people with cognitive disability. The DRC  includes autistic people among people with cognitive disability.

The report focuses on NSW and  describes many poor experiences of autistic people in the health systems. It says:

Experts and advocates also noted the dearth of initiatives to ensure that people with autism can access and receive appropriate health care.

Response to email to Minister Robert regarding Expert Reference Group to implement the National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Australia

By convenor | Thu, 22/10/2020 - 08:47

Subject:
Re: Response to email to Minister Robert regarding Expert Reference Group to implement the National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Australia [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Date:
Thu, 22 Oct 2020 08:41:53 +1100

From:
Bob Buckley (A4 Convenor) <convenor@a4.org.au>

Organisation:
Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia

To:
Autism Policy <AutismPolicy@dss.gov.au>

Dear Mr Hoffman - your open letter

By convenor | Wed, 14/10/2020 - 06:26

Dear Mr Hoffman

I received my copy of your open letter to all NDIS participants at 4.02pm today.

Throughout the letter, you use the term “independent assessments” despite the whole disability sector having advised you that the NDIA’s contracted assessments are not “independent”. Insisting on calling them “independent” when they are not independent at all is classic “Yes Minister” conduct. Your failure to acknowledge and refusal to respect the views of the disability community shows you are not interested in improving the NDIS for the people who depend on it.

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