Nas Campanella

Australia

Disability Affairs Reporter at ABC News (Australia)

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Articles

This family didn't just try to fix their daughter's Deafness - they embraced it

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Nas Campanella |Evan Young

Parents with Deaf children often have a choice to make: do they learn Auslan, the spoken word, or a mix of both? Families who choose a bilingual approach need to get well versed in the Deaf world and its culture, which is much bigger and more vibrant than most hearing people realise. While a bilingual approach to raising a child means double the work, families raising their kids in both the hearing and Deaf worlds say they're also getting double the joy.
Ali France's election isn't just a boon for Labor - it's big for the disability community too

4 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Nas Campanella

Ali France couldn't be prouder of her two best friends. They give her support and are an extension of herself. "My first best friend is my prosthetic leg and my second is my wheelchair," she told ABC NEWS this week. In a matter of weeks, Ms France and her two best friends will enter the House of Representatives with pride. "I'm proud of my leg," she said, sitting on a park bench with titanium ankle crossed over human knee.
Estate planning for parents of children with disabilities

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Nas Campanella

Planning a will and how estates will be split when we die are topics many avoid. Talking about death can be uncomfortable especially because it can often involve conversations around money or property. For parents who have children with intellectual disability there can be additional issues to consider like maintaining their housing or care arrangements.
A few years ago, Dan was caring for his mum. Now it's the other way around

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Evan Young |Nas Campanella

For years, Dan Collins looked after his mother Ros as she got older. But the tables turned two years ago when he acquired a permanent brain injury, forcing his mum — now 95 years of age — to become his full-time carer. "Dan used to call in every single morning on his way to work to … see if I was alright. Now the situation is reversed," Ms Collins said. Dan, now 66, became ill in 2023 after contracting meningitis.
Three big disability issues the next government needs to address

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Evan Young |Nas Campanella

Unlike the last election, issues around disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) have barely rated a mention on the campaign trail. People with disability feel they're living in limbo and want policymakers to outline a clear plan for the future. On the eve of a new parliament, here are three priority areas advocates want addressed when the dust settles after polling day. Do you have a story to share?
The tough task of finding the right school for kids

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Nas Campanella

Finding the right school is a daunting task for any family, but for parents with children with disability there are extra hurdles like ensuring the school will provide the right support for your child. The mother of a boy who is deaf and blind says she's felt frustrated with a lack of clarity over whether he'll receive the assistance specific to his disability.
Parents of Deafblind boy question inclusion policies for kids with complex disability

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Mary Lloyd |Nas Campanella

Jamie Bennett always knew finding the right school and supports for her son Ari wouldn't be easy. She didn't expect to face "confusing and baffling" policies, nor to feel frustrated and left in the dark. The four-year-old, who loves dancing and rough-and-tumble play with his brothers, is Deafblind. "He is out to prove everyone wrong. I think he's very underestimated," Ms Bennett said.
Creating inclusive artistic events

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Nas Campanella

For many autistic people going out to a concert or the theatre is a no go. The bright lights, noise and unexpected moments in a performance can be confronting. Now a project lead by autistic people is running inclusive events and training staff at some of the country's biggest cultural hubs so that everyone can enjoy a night out.
Making the arts sector more inclusive, and smashing autism myths, one event at a time

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Nas Campanella |Evan Young

Madeleine Lobsey and her family rarely leave the house — not because they don't want to, but because the world can be a confronting place for them. Madeleine, her husband and their three children are all autistic. "The world just doesn't work for us," she said. "When we're home and it's just us, that's the happy place where we can be ourselves."The Lobsey home is a vibrant haven, where activities like building Lego, board games or baking are aplenty.
Man's sudden death sparks renewed calls for NDIS provider registration

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Evan Young |Nas Campanella

The death of a man with disability in NDIS-supported housing last month has sparked a police investigation and renewed calls for mandatory provider registration. The ABC can reveal a 42-year-old man died suddenly at a housing facility in the suburb of Acacia Ridge in Brisbane on March 14. The facility was run by a company called Core and Capacity, which was not formally registered with the NDIS, and so was not subject to the same oversight or regulation as providers that have registered.