IT HAS been a parent's nightmare: the death of a husband when their younger son is two, and before the child is diagnosed with a major disability.
Kate Walsh of Menai, who faced both challenges, was left with the problem of finding the best schooling for her son Cameron, 10.
After attempts to have him settled at four schools, Ms Walsh in March went with a group to Parliament House, Canberra, to meet politicians and see the promised full disability loading being applied next year, allowing students with a disability to take part in the same way as other students.
The mother has nothing but praise for the schools Cameron has already attended, but they have not been the right fit.
"I don't understand politics, but you'd do anything for your children," Ms Walsh said.
She described Cameron as a highly intelligent person, "a unique little individual" who unfortunately has high functioning autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and oppositional defiance disorder.
"If the government spent money on these kids now it would save more money later on," she said.
Alex Balden and her five-year-old son, Sebastien, of Sutherland, were part of the group which travelled to Canberra at the same time.
Sebastien is on the autism spectrum, attends a government school and is moving to full-time schooling after being home-schooled for seven weeks.
She said that the disability loading was going to make the vital difference for her son and his access to a quality education.
Children with Disability Australia chief executive Stephanie Gotlib said there was an interim loading in place, but it was urgent that the full promised bipartisan loading be applied for the start of the 2016 school year.
"The families who visited Canberra demonstrated how inadequate the present situation was and how critical was the need for adequate funding," she said.
What do you think the government should do forthe education of those with a disability?
