The NDIA did not respond to a number of A4's concerns. Issues of particular concern were:

• "misinformation and untruths" from the NDIA's CEO to NDIS participants about the assessment tools that were planned for functional assessment of autistic NDIS participants for the so-called Independent Assessments, and
• inexpert and misguided advice from the NDIA's Independent Advisory Council (IAC) about early intervention for autistic children.

The NDIA did not respond to A4 about its concerns.

The Disability Royal Commission welcomes the Australian Government’s release of a new national roadmap that aims to improve the health of people with intellectual disability (Roadmap).

The Royal Commission strongly supports any initiative that addresses the serious inequities people with cognitive disability face in the current health system, and that attempts to develop a system in which they have access to high quality, timely and comprehensive care.

Eighteen people linked to a special needs school in Sydney’s north — including seven students — have tested positive for COVID-19.

Key points:

• Parents were first notified a staff member tested positive on August 5
• Seven students, three staff and eight family members are now positive
• NSW Health says it does not disclose details on venues of concern unless there is a public health risk

The Giant Steps school in Gladesville caters for students with severe autism and has closed its doors after becoming aware of a positive case last week.

SAFEWORK NSW v SNAP PROGRAMS LIMITED AND STATE OF NEW SOUTH
WALES (DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITIES AND JUSTICE) [2021] NSWDC
259

District Court of New South Wales, Scotting DCJ, 18 June 2021

Sentence hearing for a WPHS breach involving the death of a child in care

Key Words: Workplace Health and Safety, New South Wales, Penalty, Death Of Child In Care, Duty of Care

The NDIA claims in its Participant Service Charter that it wants to be "transparent". However, it avoids making public communication and decisions about some key issues. For example, the following show that it does not want its records about commentary from a disability representative organisation (DRO) on advice it received from its IAC released.

The Hon. Scott Morrison MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Dear Prime Minister Morrison,

There are numerous reports in the media that the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has seen the average cost of individual support packages increase by at least 12% per year since 2017. These include:

John Harris

Progress has been made, but the release of the profound film, The Reason I Jump, shows how much further we need to go

Sally Eeles

Queensland researchers say anxiety — not autism — is preventing many children on the spectrum from flourishing at school.

Key points:

• Anxiety predicts quality of life more than a child's level of autism, researchers say
• Researchers are hoping to reduce this anxiety by giving parents the skills to give to their children
• Griffith University is seeking 30 families with an autistic child due to start prep in 2022 for the program