Ten-year-old Logan was two when he was diagnosed with autism, an intellectual disability and a severe speech delay.

Logan was having regular meltdowns, experiencing severe communication issues and was unable to speak until he was four years old.

Three years later, when younger sister Alexia turned two, she also was diagnosed with autism.

Parents Amanda and Mark received some funding but it was not enough to cover the extensive therapy requirements of both of their children.

“We had to mortgage our house twice in the last eight years, I did a fund-raiser because we ran out of money, we sold our cars,” Amanda said.

“I was driving a $100 car and my husband was driving a $150 car because we just put everything we had into the kids,” she said.

“I trained myself as a therapist to do therapy with Logan at home to save money.”

In 2016 the family’s life changed for the better when both Logan and Alexia joined the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Logan and Alexia both receive funding towards speech therapy and occupational therapy, while Logan also has support workers who help him engage with the community –  teaching him how to buy his own lunch, go shopping and general daily life skills.

Alexia also has additional funding for psychology.

“NDIS has truly been a blessing to our family,” Amanda said.

“Logan has met his goal of making and sustaining friendships and he’s building his capacity to the point that when he is older, we are confident he will be able to live independently.

“Alexia has also made progress, she’s started gymnastics and already in the last year we’ve seen massive improvements.

“I just feel happy that they’re happy, that’s all I want.”

While both children are flourishing with their additional support, Amanda says the funding has also had a positive impact on the family dynamic, as they’re now able to enjoy more time together. 

The family is now building a new home which Logan and Alexia will be able to live in long term if they choose to.

“Our kids have so much potential and they just needed that extra support, it was difficult as a parent when we couldn’t give it to them.

“Now we’re no longer struggling to pay therapy bills and it’s meant we don’t have that financial burden, it’s taken a lot of stress off our family.

“We can go out and do something on the weekend with the kids and enjoy life, rather than watching every single penny because we have to pay for therapy.

“I now feel secure that if our children need support into the future, I don’t need to worry – there are supports in place for them. It’s such a relief.”

The NDIS provides Australians under the age of 65 with a permanent and significant disability thesupports they need to live an ordinary life and to increase their social and economic participation.

The NDIS is now providing support to more than 208,000 Australians.