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Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme has today released further details about the proposed assessment protocol for prospective and existing NDIS participants, including the assessment tool that will be part of the new NDIS planning framework.
While clarity about the Government’s preferred rollout date and the tools that will be used during assessments is a good start, Amaze and the Australian Autism community hold considerable concerns about the impact that the assessment process will have on Autistic NDIS participants, and those seeking support from the Scheme.
“Co-design and community endorsement is a fundamental pillar of good disability policy design. Autistic people and their representative bodies must be at the heart of designing any assessment tools that will be used to determine NDIS access and the level of support a participant receives,” Amaze CEO David Tonge said.
Assessment processes must be neuro-affirming, trauma informed, delivered in a manner that does not intentionally or unintentionally disadvantage Autistic people, be undertaken by people across all levels of the assessment process with a deep understanding of autism, and importantly, have transparent, robust and fair appeals process.
“Autistic people constitute the majority of NDIS participants and as such, any assessment process and tool must prioritise our communication and sensory needs. Amaze will not endorse any approach that fails to consider the holistic needs of Autistic participants and their families. We are committed to working with our community and with the Government to ensure any new processes are autism-informed and neuro-affirming,” Mr Tonge said.