The following is from the Senate Autism Inquiry report 2022 webpage - the full report can be down loaded from the link below.
Life outcomes for autistic Australians are unacceptably poor. This comes at an enormous personal, social and economic cost.
Meaningful systemic changes would have an enormous impact, with instances of good practice demonstrating how this can be achieved.
The drivers of poor outcomes for autistic people are complex and interrelated.
Generic disability strategies have proven ineffective at improving life outcomes for autistic people.
A National Autism Strategy should form the centrepiece of efforts to improve outcomes for autistic Australians
The National Autism Strategy should be person and family-centred, address whole-of-life needs for all autistic people, and include targeted actions to support vulnerable cohorts.
The National Autism Strategy should be co-designed by the autism community
Accountability will be critical to delivering genuine change
Key priorities for the National Autism Strategy should be guided by the recommendations of this inquiry
The effectiveness of the National Disability Insurance Scheme for autistic Australians should be the focus of a separate inquiry
Conduct of the inquiry
Acknowledgements and references
Structure of the report
Language used in the report
What is autism spectrum disorder?
How is autism diagnosed?
Prevalence of autism in Australia
Diversity of the autism spectrum
Chapter 3—Life outcomes for autistic people
Overview
Health outcomes
Education outcomes
Employment outcomes
Housing outcomes
Justice outcomes
Social inclusion
Chapter 4—The cost of failing to provide adequate services and support
Overview
The economic cost
The cost to families and carers
Key life transitions
Chapter 5—A National Autism Strategy
Stakeholder support for a National Autism Strategy
Why a National Autism Strategy?
Principles to guide development of a National Autism Strategy
Potential development mechanisms
Committee view
Chapter 6—The adequacy of available services and supports
Support for autistic Australians
Concerns raised by stakeholders
Common barriers to the provision of adequate services and supports
Support for social inclusion within the community
Committee view
Chapter 7—Services and supports for specialist groups
Autistic adults
Autistic women and girls
Disadvantaged and vulnerable cohorts
Families and carers of autistic people
Committee view
Chapter 8—Research and data collection
Overview
Existing research gaps
A National Autism Register
A National Autism Research Framework
Committee view
Overview
Demand and funding for advocacy services
Autism-specific advocacy services
The breadth of the autism spectrum
Committee view
Overview
The importance of early diagnosis
Challenges to obtaining a consistent, timely and best-practice diagnosis
Committee view
Chapter 11—Early intervention and support
Early intervention and support services
Importance of early intervention
Post-diagnosis support
Barriers to effective early intervention
Committee view
Overview
School education
Higher education
Transition from education to work
Committee view
Overview
Recruitment processes
Adjustments and supports in the workplace
Autism understanding and workplace discrimination
Specialised employment services, targeted programs and incentives
Committee view
Chapter 14—Health and mental health
Overview
Challenges in accessing health care
Restrictive practices
Maternal health care
Mental health
Committee view
Overview
Support required to live independently
Availability of affordable and appropriate housing stock
Accessing to social housing and the private rental market
Committee view
Overrepresentation of autistic people in the justice system
Contributing factors
Transitions out of detention settings
Committee view
Australian Greens Senators' dissenting report
Flawed conceptual basis
Case Study: Inclusive education
Key issues in the report's outline for the construction and role of a National Autism Strategy
Appendix 1—Public hearings and witnesses
Appendix 2—Submissions and additional information
Appendix 3—Additional supporting material
Appendix 3.A — DSM-5 Autistic Diagnostic Criteria
Appendix 3.B —
Appendix 3.C —
Appendix 3.D — National funding and initiatives supporting autism research
Appendix 3.E — Summary of progress on recommendations from the ECEI Implementation Reset
from https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Autism/autism/Report
| Attachment | Size |
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| 2022-SenateAutism-ServicesSupportandlifeoutcomesforautisticAustralians.pdf (3.27 MB) | 3.27 MB |