Dan Jervis-Bardy

A Liberal senator has blasted the government's proposed new assessment system for National Disability Insurance Scheme participants as "dehumanising" and "offensive" and said she wouldn't want her autistic child to be subjected to one.

NSW Senator Hollie Hughes has not ruled out voting against her government when legislation to mandate independent assessments is brought to parliament, declaring she's a "mum first, a senator second".

Elliot Mitchell

They didn’t hurt anyone, break anything or smoke.

Maybe it’s the venue. An empty school has an unsettling vibe, and we’re meeting on the first day of the holidays, with no kids around. A single shaft of sunlight pierces the room to sad effect. Or maybe it’s just that I’m tired. Because I am. Very tired.

Rebecca Puddy

Jessica's son was four years old when she was told he was no longer welcome at his school, and according to some experts, she is not alone in her plight.

A4 sent a short submission (see below) to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for its series of online regional consultations with people with disabilities, through their representative organizations. The Committee's information says:

Chris Woods

Crux of the matter

In a landmark reform agenda, the Victorian Public Advocate has called for nation-wide cognitive disability screening for prisoners and a series of accompanying support services.

A4 met with officials in the federal Health Department and presented the brief below. It calls for the following actions:

Dear The Hon G. Hunt MP

Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (A4) recently sent this letter to the organisations below. We are very concerned about delayed diagnosis of autistic children and the consequent long-term detriment this brings for them, their families and the community generally.