“Rights are not given; they are won.”
With NSW Secretary to the Minister for Families and Communities and Disability and Inclusion, Liesl Tesch, at the 2023 Re-Launch of Labor Enabled NSW (to which I was VERY late).
2023 Re-Launch of Labor Enabled NSW, group of attendees, including Minister Kate Washington, Minister Jo Haylen, Minister Trish Doyle, and Minister Jodie Harrison.
With Alison Sweep, Director of Inclusion at the NSW DCJ Office of the Senior Practitioner (OSP). We met at the BMCC to discuss wrap-around support for Neurodivergent mothers, psycho-social disability discrimination in child protection practice, and the release of the 2023 Disability Royal Commission Parents Report.
With Federal MP for the Blue Mountains, Susan Templeman, discussing the needs of Disabled women and girls, 2023.
At the Closing Ceremony of the Disability Royal Commission, with colleague Laura Lewis, who advocates on bullying and inclusion of Disabled students in QLD Schools.
Logo for the Australian Neurodivergent Parents Association, which stands at 170 members across Australia, and growing. Watch this space!
I believe Disabled rights are human rights. That’s why I fight for them every day.
I work across both Individual and Systemic Advocacy.
As an Individual Disability Advocate, I work to lift the voices of Neurodivergent clients by supporting in the following areas:
Child Protection
Family Law
Education - Early Childhood, Primary, Highschool and Tertiary
Access to the NDIS
Medical settings - including access to Diagnostic tools
Support Co-ordination of NDIS Plans
Parent Education in self advocacy skills
I can help support documentation, provide witness and scribe in meetings, chair meetings and conferences, and provide help with strategy.
I have a sound knowledge of the Disability Discrimination Act, the NSW Anti Discrimination Act, and the Disability Standards for Education. I consult with solicitors, larger Advocacy bodies and academics in the course of my work.
As a Systemic Advocate, I work with Members of Parliament, Advocacy bodies and service providers on improving representation and access of Neurodivergent mothers to support, justice and equity. I am currently advocating for:
Increased access to the NDIS for mothers with ADHD and ASD1
Increased access to Medicare and bulk billing of ADHD and ASD screening
Increased access to Advocacy services for ND mothers
Changes to Child Protection policies and practices in NSW to provide a greater understanding of ND presentations in mothers and the need for practical support
“Support don’t report” as a model of early intervention
Compensation and redress for ND mothers and their children harmed by the over policing of our community by Child Protection workers
An end to the profiling of Autistic mothers as perpetrators of Factitious Illness Abuse; permanent change to the use of Structured Decision Making in regards to this concern
Reducing the number of ND children in Out of Home Care by promoting diversion strategies in ND communities and systems
Compliance to the Disability Standards for Education for all ND children, including ADHD - currently not provided for adequately by the NSW Education system
My fees:
Individual advocacy support for Disabled people and their families:
$80 p/h flat rate
Consultation with government and the community sector:
$100 p/h flat rate
I represent ND mothers at risk of removal of their children who do not have access to financial support on a Pro Bono basis.
I am only able to take a small number of these matters at any time.
I am unable to assist on long-term pro-bono advocacy matters involving child protection or Family or Children’s Courts, however I can give very short-term background advice and attend home visits with child protection workers as a witness and advocate by Zoom or phone (on a limited basis) and give general advice regarding how to prepare for a home visit/respond if you have been contacted by child protection.