AEIOU Foundation is raising alarm over drastic, unannounced reductions in NDIS funding, putting autistic children’s futures in jeopardy. These sudden cuts, which can be as steep as 70%, threaten to dismantle vital support structures, leaving families in turmoil and children with complex needs without adequate care.
A/Prof James Morton AM, Founder and Patron of AEIOU Foundation, has voiced deep concern over the ideological basis of these funding changes, which appear to be driven by theory rather than evidence. “These abrupt reductions are harmful and disregard the real, tangible progress children make when supported with specialised therapy, education and care, through programs that meet the 2012 Australian Good Practice Guidelines,” said A/Prof Morton.
Despite substantial evidence from allied health professionals and paediatricians, NDIS delegates have been making personal judgments that AEIOU’s service is unnecessary for children with very high support needs.
The NDIS has also directed families towards mainstream settings, leaving children without access to therapy or appropriate learning opportunities. In mainstream environments, staff may lack the resources or training to support children effectively, resulting in families being called to collect their children when they are dysregulated or unable to participate fully. Many experience exclusion because those environments are not equipped to meet their unique learning and sensory needs.
The impact on families has been profound. Chloe Thompson, a mother of three autistic children, shared her distressing experience. She said despite clinical recommendations, her daughter Delilah’s recent NDIS review resulted in the denial of necessary funding twice.
“I am at my wits end. I’ve never cried so much in my life,” Chloe said. “The NDIS insists that Delilah attend mainstream daycare with minimal therapy, despite our experience that this approach has failed repeatedly and has been damaging to my children’s futures and our family life.”
Chloe recounted how relocating to Queensland and enrolling Delilah at AEIOU made a remarkable difference. “In just six months, Delilah has shown significant progress—she can now say ‘mum’, has expanded her vocabulary to nearly 50 words, and is feeding herself. These achievements are beyond what we ever managed before.”
Ipswich mother Nikki Lister, an early childhood teacher, also faces grave challenges. Her 4-year-old son’s recent plan review resulted in a $15,000 funding cut. “I am terrified of what this means for him,” Nikki said. “The change since he started at AEIOU has been enormous. We were told he might never talk or walk, but with the right help, he is defying those odds.”
Nikki said the NDIS would not listen to her. “He needs more time to develop, and they’re taking it away.”
AEIOU Foundation urges immediate action to address these funding cuts and restore necessary support to ensure autistic children can access the early intervention they need to thrive. The Foundation calls on policymakers to listen to the voices of affected families and base their decisions on the lived experiences and evidence provided by those directly impacted.
The community can support autistic children by signing AEIOU Foundation’s petition.
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