Myles Houlbrook-Walk

Jonty Beard's Saturday morning ritual, honed after years of practice and discipline, sees him packing his umpiring bag, grabbing his whistle and steeling his mind.

The hard work has seen Jonty become the first person living with autism to officiate a premier league fixture in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL), the Territory's highest level of Australian Rules football.

The National Disability Insurance Agency’s (NDIA) spending on private law firms to battle participants appealing its decisions rose 30% last financial year, new figures show.

Data released under freedom of information laws shows the agency paid about $17.3m in 2020-21 to firms representing the agency in “external matters” such as legal challenges at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

The figure is an increase from $13.4m the previous financial year, the data shows.

Vibrant street art has transformed 33 of Melbourne’s renowned laneways, as the city fills with visitors for summer celebrations.

The new creative and lighting installations are part of the City of Melbourne’s Flash Forward program – the largest revitalisation of CBD laneways in Melbourne’s history.

Recently complete works include:

Allanah Sciberras

This story contains references to suicide. If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

La Trobe University researchers have developed a website to help people better identify and respond to suicide risk in their family members and friends.

Joanna Moorhead

The recorded incidence of autism has increased 787% in 20 years. For many parents, getting help for an autistic child alerted them to their own traits

When John Purnell’s 10-year-old son was diagnosed as autistic, he knew exactly how to respond. “I’ve always been fascinated by research, by detail, by finding out everything there is to find out about something,” he says. “So I did a really deep dive.”

Ellie Mitchell

Kids handle exhibits and chatter excitedly at the top of their voices in the Australian Museum, where it would normally be peaceful this early in the morning.

The unusual scene makes Emma Gallagher’s heart lift because this space, on this day, is meant to be used in precisely this way.

Tactile exhibits are part of a more sensory experience at Australian Museum.Credit:Anna Kucera/Australian Museum

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."

Commission claims provider’s litany of alleged failures left the safety of Merna Aprem – who had autism and epilepsy – at ‘real and significant risk’

Two and a half years after Merna Aprem was found drowned in the bath of her NDIS funded care home in Sydney, the industry watchdog has announced a historic lawsuit accusing the provider of a litany of failures.

The lawsuit is the first of its kind from the Quality and Safeguards Commission, which formed as part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in July 2018.

Nick McAllister

For 10 years, I was unemployed because I was autistic.

Every time I was forced to tick the "I have a disability" box, it made me feel insignificant as a human being.

It became the focal point of who I was — and I knew when I would get that automated rejection email telling me I didn't get the job, it was because of my condition.

There are both misconceptions and fears about employing a disabled person, but also ignorance and prejudice.