In Australia:

• 1 in 5 people have a disability
• Approximately 3% have intellectual disability
• Around 1.4 million people with disability have a severe or profound core activity limitation
• Every 2 hrs, a child is diagnosed with an intellectual disability
• Every 7 hrs, a child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder
• 1 in 1000 children born each year will have Down Syndrome
• Every week 10 to 15 people sustain a severe brain injury

Disability support and employment:

• 2.4 million people with disability need assistance with at least one broad area of activity
• People with a profound disability are 9 times less likely to participate in activities outside the home
• 45% of people living with disability in Australia are living either near or below the poverty line, more than double the OECD average of 22%
• People living with disability in Australia are 2.7 times more likely to be at risk of poverty than other OECD countries
• 53% of people with a disability aged 15 to 64 years are currently employed, compared with 83% of people without a disability

Disability and education:

• 36% of people with a disability aged 18 to 64 years, have completed Year 12, compared with 60% of those without a disability
• 50% of school children with a disability receive additional support including tuition, and access to counsellors or support workers
• 25% of people with a profound or severe disability aged 15 to 64 years have completed Year 12