People with intellectual disability can be parents and caregivers too – but the NDIS doesn’t support them

The Conversation

Written by: Susan Collings, Gabrielle Hindmarsh, Margaret Spencer, Niki Wedgewood. 

Published: August 16, 2022 2.23pm AEST

Excerpt:

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare last month released its report on people with disability. It shows two in three people with disability aged 35 to 44 years have parenting responsibilities and over one in five people with intellectual disability aged 15 to 44 years have children.

While it is estimated 0.41% of Australian parents have intellectual disability, international evidence shows most people with intellectual disability who become parents are classified in the “low” to “borderline” intellectual functioning range. So they may not identify with a label of intellectual disability. The real percentage of parents in this category is likely to be higher.

Child protection statistics are a sober reminder of the vulnerability these families face if they fall between the cracks of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and mainstream support services. Up to three in every five children with a parent or parents with intellectual disability are likely to be removed from their care according to research from around the world…

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