Axel was all fired up to hear the National Disability Insurance Agency’s latest groundbreaking revelation: his severe pain condition, erythromelalgia, it's not a barrier to living his best life.

His intellectual disability is.

He just needs to try harder.

No, the solution isn’t better support, worker training, assistive technology, or anything remotely tied to common sense. And the solution is definitely not letting Axel have choice or control.

Instead, Axel just needs “capacity building.” That’s right—capacity building. Because apparently, if he is frightened of doing things that might trigger pain that feels like fire, it’s a him problem.

Need an auto flush on the toilet to avoid the fire? Nah, build your capacity to endure the fire.

Let’s break it down for those unfamiliar with Axel’s world. His pain flares are triggered by everything from temperature changes to static electricity, certain smells, or even a startled reaction to a loud noise. 

A haircut? It’s a full-scale operation involving a support worker grounding him, someone monitoring for distress, and a clear evacuation plan.

We’re not trimming bangs here; we’re defusing a bomb. And shoes? This time of year, forget it. Axel wants thongs for a reason—pressure on his feet can turn his day into an inferno.

Even the NDIA’s own specialist has admitted that the goal here is comfort, not functional gain. Comfort. He even spelt it out for them "basic human rights" is the major consideration. 

But apparently, intellectual disability negates all of this. Axel just needs to try harder. Build his capacity. Learn to tolerate fire on his legs. People with intellectual disabilities are too stupid to feel. Right?

Wrong. Axel doesn’t need to “build capacity.” The NDIA needs to build its own capacity—to understand human rights, and to provide Axel with access to the same support the other people living with erythromelalgia get. 

Living with intellectual disabilities does not give people the right to place "strategies" as barriers to receiving support.

But Axel’s not giving up. As part of his planned reconciliation at the Human Rights Commission, he’s generously offered to host a special training session for the NDIA. 

The focus? Human rights and discrimination. The only question is: will the NDIA become participants for a day?