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Perth mother may have to quit work to care for autistic son after NDIS package cut by 70%

By bobb |

Luke Henriques-Gomes

Labor accuses Coalition of ‘stealth’ cuts to disability funding as other families complain about recent changes

A Perth mother fears she will have to quit her job to care for her autistic son after his national disability insurance scheme package was cut by about 70%, in the latest example of what the opposition is labelling “stealth” cuts to the program.

Grace under fire

By bobb |

Grace Tame raised her voice and started a revolution that would change the national conversation. But being Australian of the Year has taken a toll.

Grace Tame has lost track of the number of speeches she’s given since being named Australian of the Year. She just knows she can’t keep up this pace forever.

Autistic actor Chloe Hayden lands role in “Heartbreak High” remake

By bobb |
young actor for Heartbreak High remake

Australian autistic actor, Chloe Hayden lands lead role in the new Netflix remake of the Iconic 90’s series, Heartbreak High. I can confidentially say every Australian is EXCITED!

Netflix announced the news on Monday. The show also revealed the cast. A cast of Australian actors makes up the main group in the reboot of the iconic series. Production is now underway in Sydney for the Netflix reboot and due for global release in 2022.

Cuts to NDIS cuts will harm Australian economy: National Disability Services report

By bobb |

Dan Jervis-Bardy

Cutting funding to the NDIS would have serious implications for the wider Australian economy, with women the hardest hit, according to new research which casts fresh doubt over claims the scheme is unsustainable.

Peak body National Disability Services has published the analysis as it launches a new campaign urging candidates to reject cuts to the scheme ahead of the next federal election.

NDIS providers used unauthorised restraints on clients over a million times in 12 months

By bobb |

Luke Henriques-Gomes

Exclusive: Carers use of methods such as sedating or strapping a person down more than doubles in a year

National disability insurance scheme providers used unauthorised restraints on clients – such as sedating or strapping down a person, or depriving them of their personal belongings – more than one million times in 2020-21.

For adults and children on the autism spectrum, getting a COVID-19 vaccine is easier said than done

By bobb |

Neryssa Azlan

Peta Rostirola received her COVID-19 vaccine at a mass vaccine site and thought the whole process was smooth and easy.

But when her 13-year-old son, Pablo, became eligible for the vaccine, she knew it would be a different story altogether.

Pablo is on the autism spectrum, and while experiences may vary, people on the spectrum may deal with sensory issues if they visit a new or crowded place.

More than 50 per cent of kids with mental health issues aren't getting any help. Here's how the government plans to fix that

By bobb |

Stephanie Dalzell

Half of Australian kids with mental illness aren't getting timely professional help and less than a third of parents used services to help their struggling child, according to official government figures.

The figures are startling, especially given half of all adults with mental illness begin experiencing symptoms at a young age.

A new government strategy aims to address that, to fix a system bogged down by lengthy wait lists, and high out-of-pocket costs.

Victorian mother struggling to get son with severe autism vaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of state reopening

By bobb |

Neelima Choahan

When Victoria opens up later this month, Janine Terry is scared her only son will be locked up at home forever. 

For the past five months, the 62-year-old has been desperate trying to get him vaccinated. 

Tim, 39, has severe autism, osteoporosis and epilepsy. He is also terrified of needles. 

"In May … I asked our family doctor about Tim being vaccinated," Ms Terry said.

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