We are calling for the immediate halt of all disability reform implementation until inclusive and rights-based co-design is restored. 

This action is necessary due to serious concerns about governance, transparency, and the exclusion of lived expertise across key reform processes, which breach obligations under United Nations Conventions on the Rights of People with Disability and Children (UNCRPD and UNCRC), and erode trust in disability reform processes. These concerns include:

• Lived expertise advocacy organisations excluded from Thriving Kids and NDIS reform forums.
• The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) reversing its public position on the I-CAN needs assessment tool (from ‘not fit to purpose’ to ‘suitable’) without transparent justification.
• NDIA agreements with the I-CAN provider and Design Hubs bypassing commitments to participants and advisory bodies.

We urge the Australian Government to take swift action.

1. Initiate an independent review of Thriving Kids and NDIA consultation processes for compliance with human rights obligations.
2. Ensure lived expertise groups (people with disability including neurodivergent people) have equal representation in all reform forums. This includes the Thriving Kids Advisory Committee, and NDIS Expert Advisory Committee and its subcommittees.
3. Direct the NDIA to halt implementation of the needs assessment tool pending inclusive co-design.
4. Require NDIA to publicly publish governance arrangements and agreements with needs assessment tool providers.

ASAN AUNZ believe collaboration is essential to ensure autistic, neurodivergent and disabled adults can actively shape the policies and supports intended to serve us. There must be meaningful and visible co-design with people who are, or have been, the people these reforms are intended to serve, at all levels and all stages from within government, along with continued systemic advocacy, for disability reforms to be successful. 

ASAN AUNZ and our allies are already working together to create solutions that are valued by our community.

We invite the Australian Government to partner with us.

Ps. please join us for free as an Autistic or Ally Member to strengthen our advocacy.
https://asan-aunz.supporterhub.net.au/pages/asan-aunz-membership

For more information, visit our website: https://www.asan-aunz.org/australian-government-erodes-disability-rights/