A COOCHIEMUDLO Island resident has begun to find her voice since she started receiving regular, one-on-one support for the first time.
Amy-Lee Payne, 22, started receiving individual support funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme almost 12 months ago.
Already she has begun horse riding lessons, pottery classes, goes to the gym and has family adventures to theme parks.
Mr Payne has autism and apraxia of speech, an acquired oral motor disorder.
Mother Deb said initially Ms Payne was non-verbal, struggled to manage her behaviour and reactions and had no formal support.
She said her daughter found it difficult to be socially active out in the community.
"Now the outcome of having support over the past year has been amazing," she said.
"She is now speaking single words and is finding ways of better communicating her needs, which has helped with her behaviours."
Ms Payne hopes to build on her friendships, become more independent and play a bigger part in her community.
NDIS local area co-ordinator Sharon Schofield worked with the family to implement the funding and said she had watched Ms Payne go from strength to strength.
"Amy-Lee couldn't communicate and had no formal support until her NDIS plan," Ms Schofield said.
"The outcome of having support over this time has been amazing."
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