Affirming Access

The Affirming Access project, co-led by Berinda Karp (Autism STEP Australia) and Brendan Chippendale (Achieve Collective), is an Australian Government–funded initiative through the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission that empowers young autistic LGBTIQA+SB people to understand and exercise their rights under the NDIS, and associated supports. It delivers interactive workshops for young people on topics such as self-advocacy, conflict resolution and inclusive training for NDIS workers, and accessible resources such as guides and videos, all designed to build self-advocacy skills, promote gender-affirming and neurodiversity-aware practices, and make navigating the NDIS easier. Funded participation means these programs are free to join, with sign-up available via the project’s website