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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Luke Henriques-Gomes Social affairs and inequality editor

‘Fighting for her voice’: mother locked in legal battle with NDIS over daughter’s talker

Ella Stephens and her mother Melanie use her talker device to communicate
Ella Stephens and her mother Melanie use her talker device to communicate Photograph: supplied

A Victorian mother is locked in a battle with the National Disability Insurance Agency over her daughter’s “voice”. At least that’s how Melanie Stephens describes the “talker” device her daughter Ella has been using for four years.

Ella, 11, lives with autism and the rare genetic syndrome cri du chat (5p-), which causes delayed physical development and intellectual disability. She is non-verbal.

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