They call themselves the King Stones after their home suburb in Logan — Kingston. Get it?

Like all teenagers, they love listening to music.

But these teens from Logan, south of Brisbane, face a whole lot more than just the usual adolescent angst.

Aged from 17 to 19, the members of the King Stones all live with intellectual disabilities or other conditions, such as Tourette Syndrome or autism.

As individuals, they might normally find it hard to make any sort of loud statement, which is why they turned to song to express themselves, and their love for music has helped give them a much more positive outlook on their future lives.

With the help of two music teachers from The Endeavour Foundation, the King Stones have written four songs about their daily struggles.

“For too long, people have looked at individuals with disabilities and sort of just shut them out or put them in a corner,” teacher Kelvin Veaga said.

“There is a message in all of them, and they are dying for the world to hear what they have to say.”

‘This is who I am’

Evangel Atirai, 18, said performing on stage with the King Stones has boosted her confidence.

“I love singing in the spotlight and being around people … it makes me feel fun,” she said.

“Singing is my happiest part [of life] — it shows people who I am and not what they want me to be.”

– Lucy Murray, ABC News

Read more: Logan Teens with Disabilities Band Together to Make Themselves Heard by Recording Own Album

Image Source: Pixabay

 

For more on helping young people with disability check out ‘A Developmental Approach to Nurturing Resilience in Young People with Disability’ by Dr Jane Tracy, Director of the Centre for Developmental Disability Health, Monash Health in our Mental Health and Wellbeing of Young People Seminars