Tim Williams

HE was dux of his Year 12 class, is starting a double degree in law and international relations, and wants to be a prosecutor — yet as a young boy growing up with Asperger’s, Connor Pangallo couldn’t stand school.

CONNOR Pangallo was dux of his Year 12 class, is embarking on a double degree in law and international relations, and has his sights set on becoming a prosecutor.

Campbell Gellie campbell.gellie@dailymercury.com.au

THEY’RE almost like ticking time bombs, and several Mackay mums admit they are at the end of their tether when it comes to knowing how to handle their violent autistic sons.

The Daily Mercury has spoken to three mothers who feel helpless at the hands of their sons, who are continuously being suspended from school for their bad behaviour.

HELEN SPELITIS helen.spelitis@qt.com.au

Rollout nightmare as struggling mum locked in to wrong plan

HEAR ME: Yamanto mum Rhonda Utz with her kids Hayden and Shyanne. The family has benefited from the NDIS but also faced challenges in the planning process.

MUM Rhonda Utz struggles with everyday tasks like doing the groceries.

The Yamanto mum is completely blind in one eye and has two high-needs adult children.

Jeremy Poxon, Media Officer for the Unemployed Australian Worker's Union

Record numbers of Disability Support Pension applicants are having their claims rejected, often against the explicit advice of doctors. With nothing left to lose, some are choosing to fight.

After two years of failed applications for the Disability Support Pension — as well as numerous appeals — Quang Huynh, a 30-year-old Dandenong man, decided he’d had enough.

Jasmin Lill

A BRISBANE mum says she was shocked to receive an anonymous letter from a neighbour complaining about noises coming from her autistic son.

Magenta Quinn found the letter at her Mount Ommaney home on Monday.

“When you moved in we heard these strange moaning and shouting coming from your garden every day and night, for which we were concerned may be illegal activities, so we contacted the police who in turn have visited your premises,” the letter said.

Sian Johnson

Just months out of high school, former Brauer College student Bryce Pace is taking steps to change the world for the better.

Darren Cartwright

THE $22 billion-a-year National Disability Insurance Scheme is under fire for giving approval to a US program to treat autism that has not undergone scientific trials.

The program, called Neuro-Fit Systems, has been embraced by parents, but AMA Queensland has questioned its approval by the NDIS.

The Hon Jason Clare MP

Member for Blaxland

Speech: 12 Feb 2018

Tonight I want to talk about a beautiful little girl who lives in my electorate named Georgia.

Georgia is 9 and she has multiple disabilities.  She has autism, epilepsy and profound global development delay.

Georgia can’t dress herself, or brush her teeth or comb her hair.  She can’t shower on her own.

She has to wear a nappy 24 hours a day.  

She has to wear a onesie - otherwise she will put her hands in her nappy and smear faeces around the house.