REDLAND District Special School graduate Spencer Rabjohns has continued his success in and out of the pool after representing Queensland at the Special Olympics Australia National Games last year.
Mr Rabjohns, 18, competed at the games in Adelaide in April 2018 and the state championships last December and has been training hard in the gym and the pool throughout 2019.
Mother Teena said through the sport, the family had made great friends and support networks in the Redlands and further afield.
"He is achieving his goals in his swimming life, a sport he is passionate about, where he has experienced success on a state and national level," she said.
Since finishing school last year, Mr Rabjohns, who has autism, has kept busy learning new skills and making friends.
He is involved in a community program where he takes part in cooking, numeracy and literacy class, dancercise, attending local libraries and music therapy.
Mrs Rabjohns said she had noticed how her son was becoming more confident and independent.
"Having NDIS funding has allowed Spence to gain new skills and it has given him a sense of independence going to his place of learning each day," she said.
"Having access to the NDIS gives him and us peace of mind that he is learning new skills to cope out in the community.
"With both parents working five days a week, NDIS funding gives us the comfort of knowing he is being cared for and he's continuing his learning which we certainly didn't want to see stop after school."
She said she was looking forward to seeing Spencer gain more experience, self-confidence and growth in his life and swimming career.
"We can't wait to watch Spence continue to learn new skills - which take time of course - but it's so rewarding when even little things are achieved."
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