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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. 

Shifting the Dial on Autism

By convenor |
Australian Autism Alliance logo

Alliance calls on major parties to act now to improve the lives of Autistic Australians

The Australian Autism Alliance is calling on major political parties to make four key commitments to enhance the quality of life and lifelong outcomes for Australians living with autism and their families ahead of this year’s federal election.

Disability Sector Statement of Concern On the Religious Discrimination Bill & impacts on people with disability

By convenor |

We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about the harmful impacts the proposed Religious Discrimination Bill will have on Australians with disability.

We all support protection against discrimination on the ground of religion and of religious freedom as essential to any thriving democracy, but this must not be allowed at the expense of the rights and dignity of others.

Sexologist Jodi Rodgers backs Dylan Alcott's call, everyone deserves love

By bobb |
Jodi Rogers smiling

Lish Fejer

It's been a week since Dylan Alcott was awarded Australian of the Year, and he was clear in his acceptance speech; people with a disabilities deserve to be included in all facets of life; including being loved.

Jodi Rodgers is a Sexologist Counsellor at Birds and Bees and assists the participants of ABC TV's Love On The Spectrum find love.

She agrees with Dylan, lets stop dismissing the importance of finding love.

Non-verbal autistic people like my son will never write his story. That doesn’t mean no one should

By bobb |
mother and child walking away on footpath - brick fences to the left, parked cars on the right

Al Campbell

Autism comprises an exponentially wide range of presentations – but the discourse surrounding it doesn’t

A fellow author recently alerted me to their inclusion of an autistic character in their upcoming debut. This very sweet young writer felt the need to be open with me, given I have two sons on the spectrum and that autism is outside their lived experience. This writer also let me know that they would completely understand if, on account of this depiction, I chose not to read their book.

‘Clients say it feels like we’ve always known each other’: the mental health experts who believe their autism has turbocharged their work

By bobb |
image of hands taking note in front of a woman sitting

Amelia Hill

Therapists, psychologists and nurses who are autistic say it has made them better at their jobs, but that misconceptions about the condition are forcing them to keep their diagnosis a secret

Eating disorders potentially hiding autism diagnosis

By bobb |
hands with knife & fork on a near-empty plat

Young people with eating disorders may also have underlying and undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder, according to Flinders University researchers.

Led by Professor Robyn Young from the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, a new study has set out to further understand the link between autism and problematic eating behaviour.

“Research has shown that eating disorders and autism may co-occur, with persons with eating disorders being referred for consideration of an autism diagnosis with increasing frequency,” says Professor Young.

NSW: ‘Unacceptable’ wait to screen children for developmental delays, autism

By bobb |
child, a doll and play tea-cups

Caitlin Fitzsimmons

The average waiting time for a child neurodevelopmental assessment in the public system has blown out beyond two years at several services across Greater Sydney, while other services have slashed their waiting lists by tightening the eligibility criteria.

The long waiting times mean children miss out on crucial early intervention for developmental delays or neurodivergent conditions such as autism, or that paediatricians “fudge” a diagnosis to get the child the help they need.

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