By Rick Morton

The managers of the National Disability Insurance Scheme spent almost $18 million on lawyers and legal advice in the last financial year, more than double the previous year’s bill, according to new data from the agency.

Figures contained in the latest senate order contracts report show the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) outsourced almost $300 million worth of labour hire, consulting, legal fees and training and development for staff in the year ending June 30.

Nas Campanella and Celina Edmonds

Severely autistic man Hayden McLean was kept in a "large caged area" and had an "absolutely horrific" experience adjusting to life in a group home, according to evidence his mother has given at the disability royal commission.

Rob Harris

Just one fine has been issued and only one provider banned by the disability watchdog despite more than 8000 complaints being lodged in the past two years.

The scandal-plagued disability sector will get $22 billion from the federal government this financial year, but an independent review found the system left vulnerable people open to harm and neglect.

Caitlin Fitzsimmons

The government is appointing independent assessors to review everyone on the National Disability Insurance Scheme to ensure the funding is fairly distributed and not just given to "those who can pay the most for a report".

There are concerns in the government that wealthier people are getting a bigger share of the taxpayer funding that covers therapy, equipment and other costs of disability, while those in greater need are potentially missing out.

Jordan Baker

The number of students with disabilities in the public education system is predicted to grow by 50 per cent in the decade to 2027, and they will need twice as many specialist teachers and thousands more support classrooms.

Six new special needs schools will also have to be built every year if diagnosis and enrolment rates continue and policy settings do not change, modelling by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for the NSW Department of Education found.

Alex Crowe

A team of researchers in Australia have found a link between children's eating habits and autism.

The Edith Cowan University study found children who ate a less varied diet between one and three years old were more likely to score higher on a test for autistic traits as adults.

Bernard Lane

Queensland has passed Australia’s first law against “conversion therapy”, gazumping Victoria’s Dan Andrews in complying with a key campaign demand of the LGBTQ lobby.

The New South Wales-based founder of a charity for autistic children and their families is celebrating her own autism diagnosis at age 48.