Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia

Bob Buckley, A4 Convenor, met with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Chairman, Dr Helen Nugent AO, and NDIA CEO, Robert De Luca, along with Ms Vicki Rundle and Mr Peter De Natris, at the NDIA’s Canberra office on 4^th July 2018. Mary Mallet, DANA CEO, also attended.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how to improve outcomes substantially for autistic people of all ages, including children.

In relation to children, this includes:

Farrah Tomazin & Tammy Mills

It was the marks on Sophie’s* arms that started it. The moment she came home from school with those bruises, her parents demanded answers.

What happened? How did the bruises get there? Had a form of physical restraint been used by her teachers?

As a child with autism, Sophie has tendency to act out – regularly and severely. How the school responds to her when she does is the great unknown.

Minister's Media Release

The new Autism Advisory Group (AAG) will provide a strong voice on behalf of people with autism who are participating in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Minister for Social Services Dan Tehan said the Australian Government established the AAG because of its commitment to a collaborative, fact-based approach to autism and the rollout of the NDIS.

Sherryn Groch

A Canberra student with high needs who wasn't allowed to go to school for more than four months is now facing a "jail sentence" when he returns under restrictive conditions, his family say.

Deborah Marshall

A world-first autism study has found high levels of anxiety in children as young as five years old with autism attending Australian schools, and that levels of generalised anxiety increase as they get older.

Charlie Pickering of The Weekly provides a progress report on the NDIS ...

Sara Gingold

It is not commonplace for public servants or members of the judiciary to publically implore or reprimand government ministers or other public bodies. These are people who take the separation of powers very seriously. This makes the decision of the Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), Gary Humphries to attack the NDIA and urge ministerial intervention even more extraordinary.

MEDIA RELEASE

An Upper House inquiry has been established to examine the provision of disability services in New South Wales.

The Hon. Greg Donnelly MLC, Chair of the Committee said: 'The disability sector has undergone significant reform in recent years. This inquiry is an opportunity to examine a range of issues effecting the sector. A key area of interest is the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)'.

Note: we apologise that technical issues mean we cannot replicate this story properly on our website. The full story, showing many victims, is available from the source site: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-23/when-carers-kill/9894514

Sarah Dingle

One person with disabilities is killed by their carer almost every three months in Australia, but these acts of domestic violence are often excused by the media and judiciary. The focus is too often on the killer. Here, we recognise the victims.

Minister's media release

An Autism Advisory Group has been established to provide advice and feedback to the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

The establishment of the advisory group reflects the NDIA’s commitment to working with key stakeholders and experts who support people with autism.