Search Site

Shona Byrne is on a mission – she wants the same opportunities as everyone else and to be treated fairly and equally. Shona, 37, was born with Down syndrome and as Australia recognises Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October, her message is simple – every person with Down syndrome has something to offer and given a chance can make significant contributions to society.

Ruby Lawler is a driven young woman. The 24-year-old was born 10 weeks premature, and from that day onwards has been faced with challenges that have tested that drive. Ruby’s parents Suzie and Rob discovered when she was two years old she had a rare chromosomal deletion. At the time, there were only 110 known cases worldwide, today that number is approximately 220. At age six, Ruby was diagnosed with a mild to moderate form of spina bifida, which affects her physically, and spent a lot of her childhood fighting illness and infections, often travelling back and forth between Gladstone...