LGBTQIA+ disability support: respect, privacy and provider choice
Addressing the needs of LGBTQIA+ people with disability
By Onside · Originally published 31 March 2021
Original article and dated context
Onside is committed to celebrating diversity and recognising the needs of queer people. As well as treating all people with respect, we celebrate diversity of gender and sexuality in our workforce, and actively work to increase awareness and understanding of all those we assist.
What does LGBTQIA+ mean?
L.G.B.T.Q.I.A+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersexed, Agender, and Asexual, sometimes simply referred to as “Queer”. The inclusive term is used to describe the diverse group of sexual preferences and orientations of people who do not identify as heterosexual (“straight”) and/or Cisgender (identifying with the gender you were assigned at birth).
[Clickability update, September 2026: Use “intersex” rather than “intersexed”. Sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics are distinct, and identity is not simply a sexual preference. Ask people which words they use for themselves. See the NDIA’s inclusion context.]
How many LGBTQIA+ people live with a disability?
Roughly 1 in 5 Australians have a disability – but the latest census data reveals that sex and/or gender diverse people are twice as likely as the rest of the Australian population to require assistance with a disability. Queer people are also more likely than the average Australian to be a carer for a person with a disability.
[Clickability update, September 2026: The ABS 2022 disability survey reports 21.4% of Australians had disability. That is a different measure from a census question about needing assistance. Do not treat the historical “twice as likely” claim as a current comparison covering all LGBTQIA+ people. Read the dated survey findings.]
Why is addressing the needs of LGBTQIA+ people important?
The NDIS released their LGBTQIA+ Strategy in June 2020 – in response to many people and organisations asking for change in the way LGBTQIA+ people with a disability were treated. The NDIS recognised that many barriers prevented people who identify as queer and who had NDIS plans from being fully supported.
Queer people commonly report that they experience fear of discrimination or violence and lack of respect or dignity when speaking about their sexuality and/or gender, as well as a lack of choice and control about the way their body is treated and described. Many queer people still feel the need to hide evidence of their sexuality or gender from their careers and other people assisting them because they are afraid of being negatively judged or treated. These issues are partly responsible for the poorer health and wellbeing outcomes that queer people with a disability face when compared to other people on the NDIS.
What steps have been taken to address the needs of LGBTIQ+ people?
Thanks in large part to advocacy groups and social movements, queer people living with a disability now have improved mental and physical health and reduced cases of discrimination. More queer people’s stories have been heard by the NDIA, who responded by introducing LGBTQIA+ cultural inclusion training to more than 7,000 of their staff.
[Clickability update, September 2026: These are historical organisational claims, not a verified current training total or evidence quantifying reduced discrimination. Training attendance alone does not establish outcomes. Check the current strategy page.]
What work is still to come?
Although changes have helped improve the rights and outcomes of queer people with a disability, as a group they are still disadvantaged in many ways. A person who is a part of two minority groups often faces unique barriers in addition to the problems each group can experience separately.
For example, LGBTQIA+ people find being understood and receiving adequate social and community support more difficult than the average person, which becomes even harder when the person needs assistance to access that community. Discrimination towards queer disabled people’s gender and sexuality is also more likely to be ignored or go unnoticed due to the difficulties they can sometimes face in communicating their needs to the right people. For queer people with a disability to be adequately supported, their unique challenges and considerations need to be understood by those providing care.
How can Support Coordinators help?
A support coordinator who is well-informed on the unique needs of queer people will be able to link you to supports that understand you and actively celebrate the LGBTIQIA+ community.
They will also be able to take your voice and needs seriously and assist you in with any unique challenges you may face. A good Support Coordinator can provide you with specialised supports that help you feel comfortable and proud of your gender and sexuality, so that you don’t feel the need to hide your identity from others to feel safe or respected.
What's Clickability done in this space?
At Clickability, we've just completed an Information Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) project, supporting participants so they can endorse providers that have LGBTIQ+ expertise. You can now endorse your providers. Check out this guide for more.
[Clickability update, September 2026: The project and endorsement feature are described as they stood in 2021. Verify current functionality before relying on an endorsement as proof of expertise.]
Clickability editorial update: September 2026
How participants can check inclusion without disclosing more than they want
Ask how a provider records your name and pronouns, protects private information and responds to disrespect. You can ask about staff training and complaints without first sharing every aspect of your identity.
Tell a coordinator which preferences you want included in referrals and what may be shared. Keep that permission specific; an inclusive label on a profile does not replace the conversation about your own needs.
What providers should make visible in inclusive support
Use the participant’s preferred language and agree who can access identity information. Make privacy and complaint processes understandable and avoid assumptions about relationships or family.
Do survey disability rates and census assistance rates measure the same thing?
No. They use different questions and populations, so they cannot be substituted for one another. Official guidance
Does an inclusive profile label guarantee the provider is right for me?
No. Ask about your actual support, privacy, communication and feedback needs.
Find coordination that respects your identity and choices
Describe the support and communication you want through Clickability. Compare support-coordinator profiles and reviews, and ask how your preferences and privacy will be respected.
