The Wire

As many as 50,000 young people with intellectual disabilities may never be able to work, but the programs that keep them engaged with the community and learning after high school are being cut in some states. For parents like Helen and Martin that can mean having a frustrated young adult on their hands 24/7. Parents in South Australia marched on their state Parliament recently to demand the funding for post-school options be increased and similar action is planned soon in NSW. Mark Pattison from the National Council on Intellectual Disability says the states should be demanding that the Federal government address the problem.