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‘Wildly unreasonable’: agency slashes mother’s NDIS funding and then her daughter’s

By bobb |
Jannine Scott and daughter Bethany 11 from Kallangur, Queensland

Jannine Scott says funding had been ‘life-changing’, but now feels every time she interacts with the NDIA ‘it’s combative’

When Jannine Scott first joined her daughter Bethany on the national disability insurance scheme, it was “life-changing”.

The scheme funded in-home support workers for Scott, who has a spinal cord condition, and even paid for a power wheelchair and other assistive technology.

Scripts make jab easier for autistic kids

By bobb |
Leah Dean and son Alexander smiling at camera

Melbourne mum Leah Dean knows better than most that attending a COVID-19 vaccination appointment is anything but simple for children with autism.

Loud noises, crowds and bright lights anywhere, let alone at a busy immunisation hub – coupled with the uncertainty of a brand-new experience – can make her teenaged son very anxious.

But with the help of a set of special step-by-step instructions called a social script, 13-year-old Alexander was recently able to successfully have both his shots.

NDIS too focussed on costs over people's needs, says autism peak body

By bobb |

On Mornings with Virginia Trioli

Download NDIS too focussed on costs over people: autism peak body (6.39 MB)

The chief executive of the peak body supporting Victorians with autism has slammed the NDIS as too focussed on costs over people's needs.

It comes after the ABC revealed hundreds of people with autism and intellectual disabilities have had their NDIS funding slashed because the payments were found not to represent "value for money".

Families in crisis after NDIS funding cuts to participants with autism and intellectual disabilities

By bobb |
mother feeding (22 year old) autistic son

When Karen McKenzie received an unexpected letter from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) in August, she had to read it three times before it sank in.

Key points:

  • Hundreds of people with autism and intellectual disabilities have lost NDIS funding after the NDIA ruled it wasn't "value for money"
  • Some parents have quit their jobs or sold their homes to become their children's full-time carers
  • The federal government denies it has a "secret plan" to cut funding to people with autism

Her son Jarrod, who has autism and severe intellectual disabilities, needs help to eat, get dressed and use the bathroom, but the NDIS funding that paid for his carers had been cut by more than half.

Workers with autism find door into the public service

By bobb |
Gordon Douglas, a man with beard and glasses, smiles at camera

Jackson Graham

Canberra public servant Gordon Douglas’ initial search for a job in government was met with rejections until he knocked on the right door. 

The 36-year-old with autism cycled through job applications, hoping to find a way to put his public policy degree to use.

But unable to land a role, he worked as a courier driver, insurance claims processor, overseas teacher and spent time on Jobseeker. 

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