Cruel and irresponsible myths about the NDIS are treating autistic Australians as villains. This must stop

‘Reports of a looming showdown between Bill Shorten and state and territory governments have struck fear into the hearts of NDIS participants.’ Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Autistic people and those who support them know one thing to be true: wait long enough and we’ll be back in the news again.

In mid-November, an internal review paper suggested that NDIS funding could be “incentivising” families to seek autism diagnoses for their children. The paper was widely reported upon in Australian media but, by the time it was criticised by disability advocates, a particularly cruel narrative about autistic people had once again reared its head. As an autistic person, and a psychologist who works to support them, we are troubled by the often irresponsible reporting regarding autism and the NDIS.