Council for Intellectual Disability

08/09/2026

Trailblazer in the health of people with intellectual disability turns 100! 🎉

Since 1966, Dr Helen Beange has fought to fix the terrible health inequalities facing people with intellectual disability. She recognised the need for specialised intellectual disability health services.

Helen has now turned 100 – a great time for the NSW Government to take its intellectual disability health teams statewide!

Let’s do what works! The right support at the right time.

We congratulate our longstanding member and supporter Dr Helen Beange on her 100th birthday.

03/09/2026

Lights. Camera. Photoshoot! 📸

Here are some behind the scenes photos of our CID members and staff, who have been busy taking part in photoshoots to create images for Easy Read resources.

Images are a critical part of good Easy Read. Together with the right words they make documents more accessible.

CID works with organisations to create accessible information. We can translate information into Easy Read, run training on how to make Easy Read documents, and for bigger projects, we can create tailored Easy Read images.

Sign up to Easy Read training at: https://cid.org.au/easyread/

For more information contact: [email protected]

02/09/2026

Health care should be accessible and inclusive for people with intellectual disability.

Our four new practical guides are designed to help health professionals provide better support, with simple tips and tools they can use on the spot.

The guides cover:

• Behaviour as communication
• Communication essentials
• Consent and decision-making
• Reasonable adjustments

Each guide includes practical approaches, conversation prompts, reflective questions and links to further resources.

Use the guides on their own or alongside our Just Include Me eLearning and webinar to help make health care more inclusive for people with intellectual disability.

🔗 Find the guides and Just Include Me resources: https://cid.org.au/resource-tag/just-include-me-practical-guide/

28/08/2026

💜 Today we celebrate Wear It Purple Day! 💜

We stand with LGBTQIA+ young people, to show them they are seen, supported, and celebrated for exactly who they are!

27/08/2026

Would you like to feel more confident supporting a woman with intellectual disability to make her own decisions about health and relationships?

Join our free online She Can Ask That workshop for family members and other close supporters of women with intellectual disability.

Build your awareness, knowledge and confidence to better support women in decisions about s*xual and reproductive health and safe relationships.

You’ll learn about:
* Supported decision making and why it matters
* Practical tools and resources to support women to make informed decisions
* The different roles we play in supported decision making.

The workshop is co-facilitated by CID team members with lived experience of intellectual disability.

📅 Tuesday 8 September, 10am to 12pm AEST
💻 Online

Register now: https://cid.org.au/event/she-can-ask-that-sep-26/

26/08/2026

A report released today by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics shows that the right support leads to better long-term outcomes for people with cognitive impairment in the justice system.

The Court Diversion Program is currently available in 6 courts. CID would like to see this expanded to at least 27 NSW courts with the greatest need.

People with intellectual disability know what works, and so does Government – the right support at the right time.

Read the report: https://bocsar.nsw.gov.au/media/2026/mr-CJB279-JAS.html

20/08/2026

We all make decisions, big and small. But sometimes we need support to make them.

I Can Decide is an illustrated video that explains supported decision making — what it is, how it works and why it is important for people with intellectual disability, families and supporters.

The video is available in four languages:

- English
- Vietnamese
- Mandarin
- Arabic

Watch I Can Decide and learn more about supported decision making.

See all other language versions on our website: https://cid.org.au/resource/i-can-decide/

18/08/2026

NDIS Update.

The Senate Committee looking at the NDIS Bill have said the Bill should be accepted.

This means the NDIS will work differently in the future.

CID is concerned that the changes could affect the supports people with intellectual disability receive.

We are also worried that plans are already being cut before the new rules have started.

CID wants the Commonwealth and State Government to work together to ensure people with intellectual disability get the right support at the right time.

We will be advocating to the NSW Government so that future services help people:

- stay healthy
- be part of their community
- make their own decisions

We will also be working closely with Inclusion Australia to advocate to the Commonwealth Government about making sure people with intellectual disability are not affected by these changes.

Keep an eye on our social media for more updates.

17/08/2026

Health outcomes for people with intellectual disability are well below those of the general population.

Specialist Intellectual Disability Health Teams are making a difference, but they are currently only available in 7 of NSW’s 15 Local Health Districts. This means only a portion of the people who need this specialist support can access it.

CID is calling on the NSW Government to fund a Specialist Intellectual Disability Health Team in every one of NSW’s 15 Local Health Districts.

The health and lives of people with intellectual disability depend on it.

Read the article below to learn more about this important issue and hear from CID Senior Advocate Jim Simpson.

13/08/2026

Ever wondered what’s happening in your body during puberty, your period or menopause?

We've got the answers! Our 6 new Easy Read guides help girls and women understand hormones and what they do.

Hormones are an important part of your body. Your body makes hormones to help it work in the right way.

The guides explain hormones and what happens in your body at different times in your life. They cover:

* an introduction to hormones
* puberty
* your period
* s*x
* pregnancy
* menopause

You can read the guides on our website:

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work, and pay our respects to elders both past and present.