The NDIS has 760,000 participants,more than 300,000 of whom have autism. Those people and their families are the most anxious after Labor announced an overhaul of the scheme.
Health Minister Mark Butler has announced sweeping cuts and a new eligibility test for the scheme ahead of the budget next month.
Those with concerns about the ability to deliver support to autistic children in a school setting should take heart in a groundbreaking western Sydney program.
For years,Micah responded to his parents’ every mundane daily request with tantrums,screaming and yelling. One program changed that.
An early education provider for children with autism has entered administration,with centres across Brisbane and Queensland to shut indefinitely.
“I reached a point where continuing school felt more harmful than stepping away.”
To the outside world,they were a loving family whose children had attended a top-tier school. But behind closed doors,a “groaning” support system was weighing on two parents.
Health Minister Mark Butler unveiled the model for Thriving Kids – which will help children with lower support needs outside the NDIS – to be mainly run through states and territories.
Figures supplied to this masthead show that the Thriving Kids program will help the budget – but not enough to completely get NDIS spending under control.
The challenges for kids who don’t fit the mould are big enough. Too many teachers aren’t helping,and are actually making things worse.