Lenny and Lorna
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Lorna’s son Lenny is in his 40s. He is autistic and has schizophrenia.
Lorna said she had Lenny when she was young, on her own and already had another baby to care for.
‘I relinquished [Lenny into foster care] on the understanding that I was going to be giving him a better life than what I would be able to provide for him,’ Lorna told the Royal Commission.
Later, when she tried to find him again, she was told he had a disability. A social worker also told Lorna off the record – she said she was not allowed to disclose the information – that Lenny’s first foster father had sexually abused him. A teacher had reported suspected abuse to the police, who investigated the matter. They charged the man with child sex abuse offences, however the charges were later dropped.
At just under 10, Lenny was placed with a second foster family.
Lorna said the new family, who Lenny stayed with until his late teens, had many children in their care. Lenny seemed to have no possessions beyond a few sets of clothes.
‘When I first met [Lenny] … he had one Tonka truck and he slept on the couch. He didn’t even have a bed.’
Lorna was granted guardianship and organised independent accommodation. The foster mother delivered Lenny to Lorna, then never spoke with him again. Lorna found it ‘quite cruel’.
‘That was it. That was so sad to see him standing outside waiting for her to pick him up. He’d been with them since he was nine.’
Lorna organised support services for Lenny, including a psychiatrist.
‘Life was really going lovely for [Lenny] … He was becoming very confident and comfortable with meeting new people, and I introduced him to singing and dancing with a private social group … where he would go on Saturdays of his choice. Yachting, river cruises, horse riding, really living it up.’
Lorna said a government department then challenged her guardianship.
‘They tried to portray that I was in Lenny’s life for his money … They tried also to portray that I was abusing him. His abuse happened way before I met him.’
Lorna said she felt bullied into giving up guardianship. Years later, she re-applied.
‘He’s been in terrible accommodation.’
Lorna said he was living in a house with several aggressive men and his support workers appeared to use Lenny’s money to buy cigarettes. She also suspected he’d been sexually abused.
Lenny’s service provider gave him five dollars each Sunday ‘and $10 to buy a takeaway lunch every second Monday’.
After she was granted guardianship again, Lorna moved Lenny into a new house. ‘Just two guys, and he’s got one end and the other guy has got the other. They just share the centre kitchen.’
‘Today, [Lenny] has the best of everything. He has as much control of his finances as he can. I put into his account a certain amount and he operates from his debit card. Again, today he’s proud of his financial independence.’
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.