The Future of Autism in Australia

Autistic people are dying between 20 and 30 years before neurotypical peers. The report state meaningful systemic changes would have an enormous impact with instances of good practice demonstrating how this can be achieved. It is clear to the committee there is no single cause of the poor outcomes experienced by autistic Australians. While the extent of symptoms and the presence of co-occurring conditions play a role, these can be made worse by external stresses such as poverty, unaccommodating environments, exclusion and discrimination. Key drivers of poor outcomes for autistic Australians include a poor understanding of autism within the community and among service providers.