We're doing some different and we would love to hear from you. Listen to the trailer and contect us at theindependentassessment@gmail.com

C and Craig

This month we're talking about how neurodivergence is being politicised with two advocates for autistic people. In Part 2, co-hosts C Moore and Craig Wallace talk to Jarad McLoughlin, an advocate who is also a freelancer, journalist, and radio presenter and producer about pride, representation of people who are both LGBTIQA+ and autistic and what employers need to do better.

Jarad McLoughlin – Sociopolitical (Disability/LGBTQIA+) Advocate, Activist, Autistic Self-Advocate, Freelancer, Advisor, Consultant, Radio Broadcaster & Journalist

If you missed it check out Part 1 with advocate Yenn Purkis.

This month we're talking about how neurodivergence is being politicised with two advocates for autistic people. In Part 1, co-hosts C Moore and Craig Wallace talk to Yenn Purkis, an advocate who is also an author, presenter and PhD candidate about changing perceptions of neurodivergence, autistic pride and the complexity of the disability community.

https://yennpurkis.com/

Look out for Part 2 with advocate Jarad McLoughlin.

This is a bonus mini-episode recorded on Friday 24 April in response to Minister Butler's speech to the National Press Club about changes to the NDIS. Co-hosts C Moore and Craig Wallace speak to disability advocate Sam Connor about what changes the Government has proposed to the NDIS, what she's worried about, how she is fighting back and what you can do to by way of activism.

Every Australia Counts https://everyaustraliancounts.com.au/ and https://www.facebook.com/everyaustraliancounts/

Disable People Against Cuts (Australia) https://www.disabledpeopleagainstcuts.com/

PWDA's Reasonable. Necessary. Ordinary. campaign https://pwd.org.au/disability-rights/stopNDIScuts/

Contact your Federal MP https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Contacting_Senators_and_Members

Senator Jordan Steele-John https://greens.org.au/wa/person/jordon-steele-john and https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=250156

This page has links to information about Thriving Kids consultation in your state or territory: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/thriving-kids/thriving-kids-service-design-engagement-and-consultation

This episode was recorded on Friday 27 March.

In this month's episode we're talking about voice organisations and why we need them to be strong amidst a lot of white noise, disruption and identity politics. Co-hosts Craig and Sarah talk to our guests about elevating lived experience, strategies for getting your message across and how to balance competing views and demands on voice organisations.

Our guests are Corinne Dobson from ACT Shelter and Josh Anlezark from Meridian.

Note: This episode was recorded on Friday 27 February, prior to the attacks on Iran.

In this month's episode, we're talking about Canberra streets, transport and urban centres. Are they broken for people with disability? Can we fix it? Today we're talking about city planning and what it means to be able to get about your own city and the impacts of being excluded.

Guests: Gill King, Chair of Living Streets Canberra and Bill Gemmell, committee member of the Public Transport Association of Canberra.

Mentioned in this episode.

For more information on advanced care planning go to www.hcca.org.au/advance-care-planning

For this Christmas Special we're offering the 12 assessments of Christmas on the places, spaces, cultural trends, politics and people who have managed to crawl to the end of 2025. And possibly some that didn't. It's our NDIS assessment themed yuletide trip back through a year most of you would probably rather forget. (Please note this episode was recorded prior to the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach).

Mentioned in this episode:

TV

Russel T Davies - It's a Sin

1923

House of Guiness

The Pitt

Podcasts

QAA - QAnon Anonymous

The Rest is Politics

Horror Movies

Nosferatu

28 Years Later

Weapons

Frankenstein

Books

Mean Streak by Rick Morton

Dead Centre by Richard Denniss.

The Nightrunner Series by Lynn Flewelling

Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland

The Word by Irving Wallace

Elmer Bendiners: A Time for Angels

The Genius Myth by Helen Lewis

The Extinction of Experience: Reclaiming our Humanity in a digital world by Christine Rosen

Stars, influencers, leaders and activists

David Pocock

Jordan Steel John

Stephen Mayne

Kelly @broadwaybabyto

Renee Heaton

Sarah Langston

jay_morgan16x

Angecarfaaa

Lizzyzpage0

Crutches and Spice

This month we are looking at whether it's possible to turn back the tide of rising hate speech and disinformation about disability and other people in the community. Why is this an issue? What would it take to get this on the agenda? How and why is the ACT's I-Day program putting a spotlight on this? Our guests are Dr Ashlegih Haw and Ravi Krishnamurthy.