Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia

Subject: Please involve the autism community in creating a National Autism Strategy.
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2022 13:31:52 +1000
From: Bob Buckley (A4 Convenor) <convenor@a4.org.au>
To: The Hon. Mr. Shorten MP <Bill.Shorten.MP@aph.gov.au>
CC: Senator Carol Brown <senator.carol.brown@aph.gov.au>, ...

Dear The Hon. Bill Shorten MP

I am concerned by a report that your Government is planning to start the task of writing a brief "National Autism Strategy" without properly consulting and involving the broader autism community. Please do not do this.

When Labor won the 2022 federal election, it was committed to its National Autism Strategy (see below). The challenge for the autism community in Australia is to hold the government to delivering properly on their election promise.

Labor will take action to address outcomes for autistic Australians with:

Summary: Autistic individuals are more likely to experience chronic physical and mental health problems than their peers without ASD. Additionally, those on the autism spectrum are more likely to report inadequacies in health care services provided to them.

Source: University of Cambridge

Australia is set to develop a national autism strategy regardless of who wins the federal election — a move that has been welcomed as a "good start" to changing community attitudes ;to children and young people with a disability.

Earlier this year, a parliamentary committee that examined the services, support and life outcomes for people with autism recommended the establishment of a national strategy.

Tess Bennett

Autistic NDIS recipients are willing and able to work but fear if they get a job and lose it they will be ineligible for any future financial support from the scheme, a disabled rights activist says.

Rhett Ellis is an autistic entrepreneur with an interest in technology and cybersecurity who has lobbied the government to introduce autistic employment programs.

Kaden McCarthy, 10, lives with autism and has difficulty using and interpreting verbal and non-verbal communication.

The following is from the Senate Autism Inquiry report 2022 webpage - the full report can be down loaded from the link below.

Executive Summary

The Australian Autism Alliance is holding a webinar on Tuesday 29 March (from 12.15pm-1.00pm) at which Chair of the Select Committee, Senator The Hon. Hollie Hughes, and Deputy Chair, Senator The Hon. Carol Brown will outline the report’s key findings and recommendations.

A4's Monique Blakemore will be chairing.

Click here to Register.

Amaze: Media Release

The Australian Autism Alliance today welcomes the release of the Senate Select Committee Inquiry’s history-making report on Autism. This is the first time there has been such a broad-ranging national inquiry into the issues facing Autistic Australians with recommendations for positive change.

Rick Morton

Tender documents show the government is tweaking the National Disability Insurance Scheme to exclude thousands of children with disabilities such as autism.

Sorry folk, the rest of the article is behind the paywall ...