Background paper for ASID position statement on intellectual disability and complex support needs

When intellectual disability co-occurs with other issues such as mental illness, complex health conditions, complex communication needs, behaviours that may be a harm to self or others, substance misuse, homelessness, trauma, violence and victimisation, intergenerational or circumstantial disadvantage, or involvement with the child protection or criminal justice systems, individuals are said to have complex support needs. Complexity is also shaped by gender, ethnicity, and being an Aboriginal Australian or a New Zealand Maori. Many individuals with complex support needs interact with a range of agencies that often do not adequately recognise the presence or impact of disability. Effective responses to complex support needs are also limited by the siloed nature of the policy and service context in Australia and New Zealand. This lack of appropriate recognition and response often in turn works to further exacerbate the complexity of an individual’s support needs.