ACT Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability

21/08/2026

This is a reminder about our final Community Consultations happening on August 26th at the Gungahlin Community Centre, Eucalyptus Room from 12:00pm - 2:00pm.

There will be some light lunch available during the Consultation on Wednesday.

For more information about the Consultation process and how to register please see the information provided below.

Community-Based Disability Supports - Community Consultation

ACT Down Syndrome & Intellectual Disability (ACT DSID) and Women with Disabilities ACT (WWDACT) is partnering with the ACT Government to conduct community consultation into community-based disability supports.
Community-based disability supports:

In the ACT, Community based disability supports are programs, services and resources that promote inclusion, build skills, capacity and independence, foster social participation, remove barriers to mainstream services and link people with disability and their support networks to the community.

Community-based disability supports are often provided by local not for profit organisations. Typically, the key focus of these community-based disability supports are to improve the lives of people with disability and their families. Some organisations that provide community-based disability supports may offer some services that can be paid for using NDIS funding but also offer services for free or at low cost to the community. Services could include disability programs at a local community centre or community group, incorporated association or sporting group.

The ACT Government also offers a range of community-based disability supports such as accessible transport, Companion Card support, Child Development Services and an Equipment Loan Service.

Have you heard about the proposed General Foundational Supports?

The Department of Health, Disability & Aging says General Foundational Supports are specific supports outside the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). They are in addition to services offered by mainstream systems, like education and health.

General Foundational Supports will help people with disability to live a better life. They will improve access to:

- evidence-based information
- supports that help build skills, improve confidence and independence
- supports that will develop connections between peers and within the community
- supports to find other services and resources
- advice that helps community organisations to be more inclusive and accessible.

https://www.health.gov.au/.../foundational-supports-for...

No final decision has been made about how General Foundational Supports will be delivered across Australia. When this happens, the ACT Government wants to be aware of the community-based disability supports that already exist in the ACT. The ACT Government also wants to know what is missing from our community-based disability support landscape and hear this directly from people with disability and their families/support networks.

The last community consultation will be carried out in August 2026. ACT DSID and WWDACT will be hosting one final face-to-face/online community consultation event to gather information.
Date:

- August 26th, 2026 - Gungahlin Community Centre: https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-copy-of-community...

ACT DSID and WWDACT has also created an online survey and will give the community the opportunity to speak with them over the phone, in person, via Teams or via email if giving feedback in this way is more appropriate. To provide your own feedback on community-based disability supports please complete the survey provided: https://forms.office.com/r/cC9TD9D4eK

The survey is also available in Plain Language: https://forms.office.com/r/q9BLLv5PiA

The information obtained through this research project will be de-identified and presented to the ACT Government in the form of a listening report in October 2026. ACT DSID and WWDACT may also use de-identified information in their advocacy work and information referral programs.

If you have any questions about the research or how the information will be collected and used, please contact Shannon Kolak, CEO ACT Down Syndrome & Intellectual Disability.

20/08/2026

Inclusion Australia has shared an Easy Read breakdown explaining the latest NDIS Bill changes and what they could mean for people with disability.

Thank you to Inclusion Australia for making this complex information more accessible and for continuing to represent the voices and right of people with intellectual disability.

The Australian Parliament has agreed that the NDIS Bill will become law.

We know many people are worried about what happens next.

The changes will not happen all at once. We will keep finding out what they mean, sharing clear Easy Read information, and speaking up for people with an intellectual disability and their families.

Read our latest Easy Read update here: https://ow.ly/mlvE50ZBnYM

20/08/2026

ACTDSID is incredibly grateful of the advocacy work that Down Syndrome Australia put into the last-minute amendments for the NDIS Bill.

Their advocacy highlights the importance of protecting the rights of people who require 24/7 supports, ensuring fair plan reassessments, and making sure any changes to the NDIS are shaped by the people who rely on it.

Thank you Down Syndrome Australia, for speaking up, sharing community concerns and continuing to advocate for an NDIS that is inclusive, accessible and responsive to people with a disability.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲

We remain concerned about the impact of the Bill but recognise that a number of last-minute amendments respond to our significant advocacy efforts.

These include:
✅ Improvements to the definitions and application of parental responsibility.
✅ The application of unscheduled plan reassessments.
✅ Safeguarding of people who require 24/7 supports.

The DSA Consortium will continue to work with the Government on the safe implementation of this Bill.

We know many in our community are anxious about what comes next. We will keep you updated as we work through what this means.

13/08/2026

This is a final reminder about our upcoming Community Consultations happening on August 14th at the Southern Cross club in Tuggeranong. There will be some light lunch available during the Consultation on Friday. For more information about the Consultation process and how to register please see the information provided below.

Community-Based Disability Supports - Community Consultation

ACT Down Syndrome & Intellectual Disability (ACT DSID) and Women with Disabilities ACT (WWDACT) is partnering with the ACT Government to conduct community consultation into community-based disability supports.

Community-based disability supports:

In the ACT, Community based disability supports are programs, services and resources that promote inclusion, build skills, capacity and independence, foster social participation, remove barriers to mainstream services and link people with disability and their support networks to the community.

Community-based disability supports are often provided by local not for profit organisations. Typically, the key focus of these community-based disability supports are to improve the lives of people with disability and their families. Some organisations that provide community-based disability supports may offer some services that can be paid for using NDIS funding but also offer services for free or at low cost to the community. Services could include disability programs at a local community centre or community group, incorporated association or sporting group.

The ACT Government also offers a range of community-based disability supports such as accessible transport, Companion Card support, Child Development Services and an Equipment Loan Service.

Have you heard about the proposed General Foundational Supports?

The Department of Health, Disability & Aging says General Foundational Supports are specific supports outside the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). They are in addition to services offered by mainstream systems, like education and health.

General Foundational Supports will help people with disability to live a better life. They will improve access to:

- evidence-based information
- supports that help build skills, improve confidence and independence
- supports that will develop connections between peers and within the community
- supports to find other services and resources
- advice that helps community organisations to be more inclusive and accessible.

https://www.health.gov.au/.../foundational-supports-for...

No final decision has been made about how General Foundational Supports will be delivered across Australia. When this happens, the ACT Government wants to be aware of the community-based disability supports that already exist in the ACT. The ACT Government also wants to know what is missing from our community-based disability support landscape and hear this directly from people with disability and their families/support networks.

The community consultation will be carried out over August 2026. ACT DSID and WWDACT will be hosting three face-to-face/online community consultation events to gather information.

Dates:

- August 14th, 2026 - Canberra Southern Cross Club Tuggeranong: https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-community...

- August 26th, 2026 - Gungahlin Community Centre: https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-copy-of-community...

ACT DSID and WWDACT has also created an online survey and will give the community the opportunity to speak with them over the phone, in person, via Teams or via email if giving feedback in this way is more appropriate. To provide your own feedback on community-based disability supports please complete the survey provided: https://forms.office.com/r/cC9TD9D4eK

The survey is also available in Plain Language: https://forms.office.com/r/q9BLLv5PiA

The information obtained through this research project will be de-identified and presented to the ACT Government in the form of a listening report in October 2026. ACT DSID and WWDACT may also use de-identified information in their advocacy work and information referral programs. If you have any questions about the research or how the information will be collected and used, please contact Shannon Kolak, CEO ACT Down Syndrome & Intellectual Disability.

06/08/2026

Congratulations to Sam Chapman on being named one of the finalists in this year’s ‘My Perspective’ photography competition 🎉🎉🎉

My perspective is an international photographic competition for people who have Down syndrome. Sam is a finalist in the Adult Category. 'Close up pelican' by Sam Chapman is the chosen photograph in this year's finals.

Last year, Sam won the Stephen Thomas Award for international entries as a part of the 2025 ‘My Perspective’ photography competition.

People’s Choice Award voting will open soon. Make sure to keep an eye on the My Perspective socials and website so that you can vote for Sam’s photo!

https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/our-work/our-voice/my-perspective/

31/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined our first Community Consultation yesterday. We were privileged to hear your lived experiences, insights and ideas. Your voices are invaluable and will help shape the future of community-based disability supports across the ACT.

Our next Community Consultation will be held on 14th August in Tuggeranong - https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-community-consultations-august-14th-2026-fcv4g4jl

We warmly invite everyone connected to the disability community to join us. This includes people with disability, families, kin, carers, advocates, service providers and community organisations.

We are committed to creating a welcoming, culturally safe and inclusive space where people of all cultures, faiths, languages, genders, sexualities and identities feel respected and heard. We strongly encourage participation from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and LGBTQIA+ communities.

This is your opportunity to tell us:

📍What community-based disability supports are working well.
📍What could be improved.
📍What supports are missing across Canberra.

Missing supports might include nature-based programs, specialised employment opportunities, advocacy, educational support, peer support or other services that help people live connected, meaningful lives in their communities.

Every voice matters. Your experiences will help inform recommendations to strengthen community-based disability supports across the ACT. We look forward to hearing from you on 14 August.

Get tickets on Humanitix - Community Consultations - August 14th, 2026 hosted by ACT Down Syndrome & Intellectual Disability. Canberra Southern Cross Club Tuggeranong, Cnr Pitman &, Holwell St, Greenway ACT 2900, Australia. Friday 14th August 2026. Find event information.

29/07/2026

Congratulations to ACTDSID staff member and Advocacy Reference Group member Ben on this incredible opportunity 🎉🎉

We are so proud of Ben and incredible work he does as a voice for people with disability in the ACT.

👏 A warm welcome to Ben Zarew, the newest member of the NDIS Commission's Advisory Council.

Ben is an experienced disability advocate, consultant and public speaker, and a proud member of Canberra's LGBTQI+ community.

With Ben's appointment, the Advisory Council now includes members from every state and territory across Australia.

Together, Council members help keep the voices and experiences of people with disability at the centre of our work.

👏 Join us in welcoming Ben!

🔗 Learn more about the Advisory Council and its members: https://bit.ly/4pzj6gN

29/07/2026

Carers survey extended - open until 7 August!

Have you supported someone to access sexual health services, information or education in the ACT?

Women with Disabilities ACT is working with to do a scoping study of sexual health services for women and gender diverse people with disabilities.

The scoping study will look at:

Clinical services
Sexual health information
Sexual health education

We would like to hear from you if you care for a woman, non-binary or gender diverse person with disabilities over the age of 18.

You can access our anonymous carer survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7HYFVJ3

Thank you to Carers ACT for their input and support on the consultation questions.

24/07/2026

Libraries ACT hosting 'Dance Fit with Henry' as apart of Disability Pride Month.

Registration is free, so make sure you get your name down so you can enjoy some relaxed physical exercise during Disability Pride Month.

💃 Let’s dance for Disability Pride Month at Libraries ACT!

Our libraries are hosting 2 inclusive ‘Dance Fit’ sessions for adults (18+) led by experienced dance teacher Cheryle Henry.

These relaxed sessions focus on enjoyment and confidence, with simple routines followed by a freestyle disco. No experience needed, and the sessions are FREE (bookings essential).

Belconnen Library session:
📅Date: Tuesday 21 July
🕛Time: 12:30 – 2:30 pm

Tuggeranong Library session:
📅Date: Friday 31 July
🕛Time: 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Spots are limited, so secure your place today at https://librariesact.spydus.com/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/OPAC/EVSESENQ?SETLVL=&RNI=2085588

23/07/2026

There is a new Easy Read factsheet about the upcoming Census on Tuesday the 11th of August 2026. This factsheet is for people who need information in simple, clear language.

You can use the Easy Read factsheet to:
📍learn what the Census is
📍understand what will happen
📍get ready to take part

Read the Easy Read factsheet here:
https://info.census.abs.gov.au/system/files/documents/4f857f6bb70406926020e8be2a032622/Easy%20Read%20factsheet.pdf

Please share this with family, support workers and friends who help with forms and important information.