Witnesses from the Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS) spoke about the organisation's community legal and disability advocacy work. The Cognitive Impairment Diversion Program (CIDP) pilot was designed to divert defendants with diagnosed or suspected cognitive impairment from the criminal justice system. An advocate and case manager in the program had supported clients while they were in court, to communicate with lawyers, and to access other services – including the NDIS. They filled in where service systems didn’t 'speak to each other', and supported clients to find Support Coordination.

CIDP funding ended last year, attributed to NSW budget constraints in the context of COVID-19, the IDRS Executive Officer said. She noted genuine departmental attempts to refund it.