NDIS: Participants, Process and Platform (3P) improvement initiative

By convenor |

Subject: Participants, Process and Platform (3P) improvement initiative
Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2022 11:53:40 +1000
From: Bob Buckley (A4 Convenor) <convenor@a4.org.au>
To: <XXX@ndis.gov.au>

Hi XXX

I am concerned that I don't (yet?) see really basic design goals being stated for your PACE project. I would hope that the system is designed to:

Concerns 'the next national stars' are being shut out of sporting clubs due to a lack of inclusivity for athletes with autism

By bobb |
Ava Renwood (six years old) facing camera

Six-year-old Ava Renwood is an aspiring athlete with big dreams of a career in sport.

Key points:

  • Special Olympics Queensland says many athletes with autism struggle to be accepted into sporting groups
  • Brisbane mum Ashleigh Brook says Australia risks potential future athletes "falling through the cracks"
  • Multi-class events are enabling children with disability to compete in more high level sporting events

But her mum Ashleigh Brook fears her options are limited by the lack of inclusivity and understanding of athletes with autism.

Autism CRC: Longitudinal Study of Australian School Leavers with Autism (SASLA)

By bobb |
Autism CRC logo

Historically, the adult years have been ignored in autism research, despite that these years representing the greatest proportion of individuals’ lives. Hence, limited information and guidance exists for autistic adults, their families and those who may provide support (e.g., health services, employment services, higher education) about trajectories from late adolescence through old age.

Brief & meeting with Health officials - a National Autism Strategy in health and an Autism Roadmap

By convenor |

Representatives from the autism community (A4, the Australian Autism Alliance, Amaze and ASfAR) met productively with officials from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care on 1/8/2022. Prior to meeting, the group provided a Brief that contained information and issues of concern (see below).

Hannah Gadsby on her memoir, Ten Steps to Nanette, and how her autism diagnosis changed her life

By bobb |
Hannah Gadsby looking up towards the camera

Hannah Gadsby's memoir, Ten Steps to Nanette, opens at the scene of a fancy Hollywood garden party at the home of actress Eva Longoria.

Celebrities are queuing to talk to Gadsby, whose Netflix comedy special, Nanette, had just sucker punched the world.

But the world-famous comedian extracts herself from a conversation with celebrated singer-songwriter Janelle Monáe to examine the preternaturally green lawn underfoot.

The autism advantage - why businesses are hiring autistic people

By bobb |
Chris Varney sitting on steps facing the camera

When Chris Varney was in Year 2 he presented his teacher with an incredibly detailed visual chart of the royal families of Europe from the 14th to the 19th century.

“I just felt I had found a new way of seeing the last millennium. No wonder we have so many revolutions and conflict, these families were way too connected, small community, completely out of touch,” he quips during his TED talk Autism: How my unstoppable mother proved the experts wrong.

Kids on the autism spectrum experience more bullying

By bobb |
boy huddled

Daniel Lin, Valsamma Eapen

A new study has found autism is the top risk factor for bullying among all neurodiversities.

Children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, experience various types of challenges at school. This might be due to communication, and also relationships with other children.

Accumulating evidence indicates children on the autism spectrum are more likely to be bullied.

‘Fighting for her voice’: mother locked in legal battle with NDIS over daughter’s talker

By bobb |
Ella Stephens and her mother Melanie use her talker device to communicate

Melanie Stephens is caught up in Administrative Appeals Tribunal case after being denied funding for a device to help Ella communicate

A Victorian mother is locked in a battle with the National Disability Insurance Agency over her daughter’s “voice”. At least that’s how Melanie Stephens describes the “talker” device her daughter Ella has been using for four years.

Ella, 11, lives with autism and the rare genetic syndrome cri du chat (5p-), which causes delayed physical development and intellectual disability. She is non-verbal.

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