Australia Pushes for Broader NDIS Reforms Amid Calls for Greater Inclusion
Melbourne, Australia – The Australian Government is continuing its push for significant reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), as a new report highlights a “dire” retention problem within the disability sector’s workforce. The ongoing review aims to make the NDIS more sustainable and responsive to the needs of participants, while ensuring that support […]
Government Tightens Norms on Use of Scribes for Persons with Disabilities in Competitive Exams
The government has introduced new guidelines for the use of scribes by persons with disabilities (PwDs) in competitive exams. The new rules prioritize technological aids like software-enabled laptops, Braille, or large-print devices as the primary option for PwDs. The use of a scribe, or a person who writes for the test-taker, is now considered a […]
A Roundup of Recent Developments
Technology for Early Screening: A new tablet-based screening tool is being developed to analyze children’s behavior in response to videos to help with early identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Genetic and Molecular Research: Studies continue to explore the genetic links to autism, with recent findings identifying a connection between a genetic switch and brain […]
State Leaves $800 Million On The Table For Disability Services, Advocates Say
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida officials responsible for providing services to people with lifelong disabilities have allowed nearly $800 million in state and federal matching funds to fall through the cracks in the past two years, according to a budget analysis by a statewide advocacy group. That’s enough to give the 23,000 people on a waiting […]
Autism Breakthrough
The Groundbreaking Method That Has Helped Families All Over the World As a boy, Raun K. Kaufman was diagnosed by multiple experts as severely autistic, with an IQ below 30, and destined to spend his life in an institution. Years later, Raun graduated from Brown University with a degree in Biomedical Ethics and has become […]
Autism brain states hold the key to unlocking childhood memories, findings show
New research reveals that ‘infantile amnesia’ — the forgetting of memories formed during early infancy — is both reversible and preventable. Neuroscientists have discovered a fascinating connection between the retention of early life memories and brain developmental trajectories associated with autism. Most of us remember little of our experiences from before two years of age. […]
NDIA Corporate Plan 2023-2027 We have released a new Corporate Plan 2023-2027 (opens in new window). It sets out our strategic direction and how we will measure our performance. It also highlights our commitment to continue improving the NDIS in response to the outcomes of external reviews. The Corporate Plan is also available in Easy Read. […]
How People with Disabilities Are Using AI to Improve Their Lives
Advances in artificial intelligence have spurred the development of smart devices to help people overcome physical and cognitive challenges. And this may just be the beginning. A young man operates an Xbox Adaptive Controller, which makes gaming accessible to people with a broad range of disabilities. Photo credit: Microsoft Kaden Bowen is a smiley 12-year-old […]
Wellbeing index for people with disabilities
Learn more about the new NDIS journey for applicants and participants We started the gradual rollout of our new computer system and improved processes across Australia on 30 October 2023. There is nothing you need to do right now. When you come to the next step in your NDIS journey, we will work with you to make […]
Jayelan launches a career teaching about non-verbal autism
Jayelan is achieving his career goals through youth employment support, funded through his NDIS plan. Jayelan’s limited verbal ability makes his achievement even more impressive because as an advocate, he delivers presentations to audiences. When Jayelan was introduced to the letterboard, it was a turning point. “Things were so much better when I started communicating […]