Gold Coast hospital left Autistic patient to ‘starve to death’

By bobb |

Joshua Haigh

A heartbroken mother is desperate for answers after her austisic son was allowed to starve to death in hospital.

A mother is calling for an investigation into the failings at a major Queensland hospital after her autistic son died from starvation while under the care of its doctors.

Stewart Kelly, 45, died at Robina Hospital in August last year from starvation and dehydration during a 33-day admission.

Carwoola Southport: NDIS clients face losing homes after complaint to council

By bobb |

Keith Woods

High needs NDIS clients risk losing their homes after a complaint to council amid claims they have been subject of antagonism from a minority of neighbours.

A GROUP of high-needs people are at risk of being thrown out of their homes after the company leasing units on their behalf was issued a show-cause notice by council.

Toowoomba mum of son with autism, ADHD slams National Disability Insurance Scheme over funding troubles

By bobb |

Tom Gillespie

Robyn Vahua dedicates a huge chunk of her week just trying to prove to the NDIS that her son has a disability and needs funding. Now she’s worried he won’t be able to keep living with her.

Robyn Vahua might not be able to keep her 11-year-old son Aristotle at home, because the National Disability Insurance Scheme doesn’t believe he deserves funding for his complex conditions.

How a father and son bond is helping other kids with autism move for independence

By bobb |

Georgie Hewson

When Isaac Lappin's son was 18 months old, he wasn't sure he'd ever be able to speak.

"I noticed the first change was within that first 18 months, which is a big turnaround with a lot of autistic kids," Isaac says.

"With that 18 months, the visual signs were like most [autistic] kids — like lining up toys, cups had to be the same, and just little things like that we really noticed.

"Then being non-verbal … back then, there wasn't much help."

Anthony Taikato, 19, is breaking down the stigma of autism as he continues to achieve massive personal and professional milestones

By bobb |

Kaitlyn Smith

The teen used to undertake an hours-long commute before the sun had even risen in order to complete his TAFE studies

IPSWICH teen Anthony Taikato has never been one to back down from a challenge.

Diagnosed with a learning difficulty and autism at a young age, the 19-year-old has since gone on to achieve a growing list of both personal and professional milestones.

He recently marked 18 months since joining the ranks at Garstone Design Furniture in Carole Park after taking up work as a labourer on the production line.

Family lose legal battle with Qld government over school ‘jail’

By bobb |

A family who claim their disabled child was discriminated against because he was restrained in a Queensland school have lost their appeal in court.

Steve Zemek

A disabled boy who sued the Queensland government because he was suspended and tied up at school due to his behaviour problems has lost his bitter legal feud with the state after having his appeal dismissed.

Mother's despair after NDIS rejects requests for hoist or lighter wheelchair to help her care for children with disabilities

By bobb |

SHANNON Manning wakes at 3am every day to care for her two children with disabilities.

Prone to regular attacks from her kids’ meltdowns, she has nursed broken bones and bruises in order to provide for the children she loves more than life itself.

Her non-verbal daughter Meadow, 7, suffers from severe autism and epilepsy and is in a wheelchair. Her boy Madden, 6, has Cantu syndrome.

As the sole carer she is lucky if she sleeps for four hours a night; her only assistance the presence of a carer for six hours each weekday.