_{If this email has been forwarded to you, sign up here}

People with autism and their carers expressed dismay late last month as the government released its National Autism Roadmap. Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia warns this omission undermines essential healthcare reforms, leaving Autistic Australians without crucial support.

Autism Asbergers advocate Monique Blakemore says that without secured funding, crucial healthcare reforms remain in doubt. In particular she pointed out that the roadmap, which was crafted to tackle stark health disparities — including Autistic Australians dying at twice the general population's rate — was ultimately rejected for funding by the Prime Minister.

Condemning the move as a "gross betrayal" she insisted many people with autism are still facing significantly worse physical and mental health outcomes, which are exacerbated by frequent co-existing conditions and elevated suicide rates.

Ms Blakemore said the lack of investment signals indifference from government leaders who promised prioritisation but have continually failed to deliver any real financial support. She vows to continue advocating until genuine commitment replaces hollow assurances.

Transfering such resolve into resources will not be easy. Normally, elections offer the opportunity to draw attention to funding gaps. It seems unlikely, however, that this campaign will slip into that particular pattern.

Both sides are seeking to portray themselves as ‘fiscally responsible’ and the pressure will be on to draw the purse-strings tight. Finding extra money for disability will be hard when the budget is already groaning with the spend of (more than) $40 billion dollars on the NDIS.

People with autism and their carers expressed dismay when the government released its National Autism Roadmap late last month.

Autism Asbergers advocate Monique Blakemore says that without secured funding, crucial healthcare reforms remain in doubt. In particular she pointed out that the roadmap, which was crafted to tackle stark health disparities — including Autistic Australians dying at twice the general population's rate — was ultimately rejected for funding by the Prime Minister.

Condemning the move as a "gross betrayal" she insisted many people with autism are still facing significantly worse physical and mental health outcomes, which are exacerbated by frequent co-existing conditions and elevated suicide rates.

Ms Blakemore said the lack of investment signals indifference from government leaders who promised prioritisation but have continually failed to deliver any real financial support. She vows to continue advocating until genuine commitment replaces hollow assurances.

Transfering such resolve into resources will not be easy. Normally, elections offer the opportunity to draw attention to funding gaps. It seems unlikely, however, that this campaign will slip into that particular pattern.

Both sides are seeking to portray themselves as ‘fiscally responsible’ and the pressure will be on to draw the purse-strings tight. Finding extra money for disability will be hard when the budget is already groaning with the spend of (more than) $40 billion dollars on the NDIS.