The recommendation – which sits at the heart of the Committee’s proposed reform pathway – is one of 81 made in a report tabled in Federal Parliament last month.
The Committee released its report following a broad reaching national inquiry into the issues facing autistic Australians. It recommended the strategy be co-designed with autistic people and the autism community, and that it align with other national strategies – including the National Disability Strategy – to address whole-of-life needs.
Approximately 650,000 Australians are autistic, and the Committee found life outcomes for this group of people were unacceptably poor. Examples include:
“These are not simply statistics on a page,” said the report. “Behind each set of numbers are thousands of autistic children and adults who have been denied the opportunity to fulfil their potential and live healthy, safe and productive lives, as well as scores of families who have been pushed to breaking point.”
During its inquiry the Committee heard first-hand accounts of the devastating impact that a lack of support has on the lives of autistic Australians and their families. Key drivers of poor outcomes include:
However, the Committee said it was ‘encouraged by accounts of appropriately tailored support and good practices’ that had already ‘made a difference to the lives of some inquiry participants and the autism community more broadly’.
Co-Chair of the Australian Autism Alliance, Jenny Karavolos, welcomed the release of the report and said co-design was ‘an absolute must to enable effective and sustainable outcomes’.
“We strongly welcome a National Autism Strategy and support the Committee’s acknowledgment that generic disability strategies have not improved outcomes for autistic people,” said Ms Karavolos.
The Alliance has called for priority action on:
The landmark report – which includes recommendations regarding diagnosis, education, health care, housing, social inclusion, advocacy, research, justice, rights, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme – was also welcomed by Monique Blakemore, an advocate and mother of two autistic boys.
“While not every single autistic person or organisation will agree with every recommendation in this report, the critical thing is that we finally have in front of us a plan for providing autistic people with the educational, employment, health and social connection opportunities that are desperately needed,” said Ms Blakemore.
Labor Senator Carol Brown, the Committee’s deputy chair, said regardless of the result at the May federal election, the report’s recommendations must be adopted to redress the inequities faced by the autistic community.
“It’s now where the hard work begins, the report cannot be the end, but the start,” said Senator Brown.
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