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.

Please appreciate that it is essential that A4, the recognised Disability Representative Organisation (DRO), and the Australian Autism Alliance are intimately involved to the definition and development of Australia's National Autism Strategy.

We are happy to help you identify relevant stakeholders and expertise; and to recognise the scale of the challenge. A successful National Autism Strategy is a major project. Please ensure it is done properly.

--

Bob Buckley
Convenor, Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (A4)
website: https://a4.org.au/

Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia, known as A4, is the national grassroots organisation and recognised Disability Representative Organisation (DRO) advocating for autistic people, their families, carers and associates. A4 is internet based so that Australians anywhere can participate.
Note for politicians and bureaucrats – Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia's policy on unanswered questions is available at https://a4.org.au/node/1419.

A4 recognises and respects the traditional owners, the elders past and present of lands in Australia. Sovereignty was never ceded.

“The first step in solving any problem is recognising there is one.” Jeff Daniels as Will McEvoy in The Newsroom.