31 May 2024
PWDA welcomed the opportunity to submit comment to the Department of Social Services on the draft National Autism Strategy (the Strategy).
PWDA welcomes the Strategy’s focus on implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). However, we believe the Strategy requires some amendments to improve its compliance with the CRPD to promote the rights of autistic people to the fullest extent possible.
Summary of Recommendations
Recommendation 1 – The Strategy is amended to refer to a broader range of international human rights treaties, particularly the CRC, CEDAW, CAT and the OPCAT.
Recommendation 2 – A specific focus on accessible and affordable housing for autistic people with sensory needs and promote increased access to affordable, non-segregated housing options. This should be linked to the Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031’s Inclusive Homes and Communities outcome area.
Recommendation 3 – The Social Inclusion section’s commitment 1(c) is amended to commit to increasing accessible and sensory-friendly private spaces, in addition to public and online spaces.
Recommendation 4 – The Strategy is amended to specifically commit to ending segregation in housing, education and work.
Recommendation 5 – The Strategy is amended to commit to ending the use of restrictive practices in all settings.
Recommendation 6 – A commitment is added to provide training to mainstream health and social services and specialist family violence and sexual assault services on the needs of autistic women and girls and autistic people who identify as LGBTQIA+.
Recommendation 7 – The Strategy is amended to increase public awareness of how autism presents in women and girls and acknowledges that autistic women and girls experience higher rates of violence and abuse compared to non-autistic women and girls.
Recommendation 8 – The Strategy requires all public awareness campaigns to be co-designed with people with disability.
Recommendation 9 – The Strategy is amended to identify areas that intersect with the Australian Disability Strategy 2021-2031 and explain how it will interact with the Australian Disability Strategy 2021-2031.