AUTISM is the most common disability for people involved in the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Of the 717,000 participants in the NDIS, 38 percent were people with autism, according to figures released at the end of March this year.

More than 25,000 or 79 percent were aged 18 years and under.

Across all ages, more than 61 percent of the people with autism participants in the NDIS were male.

Just over $9.1 billion of paid supports were provided to participants with autism compared to $7.8 billion in the previous year, representing an increase of 16 percent.

A total of 55 percent of family or carers of NDIS participants with autism reported being employed at the time of the participants most recent plan reassessment.

And 96 percent of family or carers of children with autism felt their child’s development had improved since becoming involved in the NDIS and 76 percent report that their child had become more independent.

• Autism is a neuro-developmental condition that affects how a person’s brain develops and functions.