Caitlin Fitzsimmons

The government is appointing independent assessors to review everyone on the National Disability Insurance Scheme to ensure the funding is fairly distributed and not just given to "those who can pay the most for a report".

There are concerns in the government that wealthier people are getting a bigger share of the taxpayer funding that covers therapy, equipment and other costs of disability, while those in greater need are potentially missing out.

A4 made a submission to the Disability Royal Commission on restrictive practices. The submission is available via the link below.

Jordan Baker

The number of students with disabilities in the public education system is predicted to grow by 50 per cent in the decade to 2027, and they will need twice as many specialist teachers and thousands more support classrooms.

Six new special needs schools will also have to be built every year if diagnosis and enrolment rates continue and policy settings do not change, modelling by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for the NSW Department of Education found.

Alex Crowe

A team of researchers in Australia have found a link between children's eating habits and autism.

The Edith Cowan University study found children who ate a less varied diet between one and three years old were more likely to score higher on a test for autistic traits as adults.

The Government is creating an Expert Reference Group in relation to its implementation of a National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Following is some of the initial correspondence.

Bernard Lane

Queensland has passed Australia’s first law against “conversion therapy”, gazumping Victoria’s Dan Andrews in complying with a key campaign demand of the LGBTQ lobby.

Dear members of the Select Committee on Autism

When I appeared before you recently, you asked about a National Autism Strategy. Please disregard the answer I provided at the time.

Since that time, the Department of Social Services (DSS) and Services Australia:

1. had senior officials appear before the Community Affairs Committee, and
2. released a Position Paper on its National Disability Strategy.

These events both show DSS to be no longer fit-for-purpose.

The New South Wales-based founder of a charity for autistic children and their families is celebrating her own autism diagnosis at age 48.