Submission No 207
INQUIRY INTO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME AND THE PROVISION OF DISABILITY SERVICES IN NEW SOUTH WALES
Name: Ms Linda McCourt Date Received: 8 August 2018
I wish to submit information regarding the very difficult time I have endured with the NDIS package for my daughter who has Downs Syndrome (now aged 31). Round one: we never actually had a face to face planning meeting… simply received a plan in the mail which was grossly inadequate dollarwise because no one had discussed our needs…thus leading to a stressful 3 month review. My partner had just died so it was especially stressful. Eventually came to a reasonable agreement on funding.
However… Round Two: in January this year. Actually was granted a planning meeting at Chatswood NDIA. I did not ask for any extra funding. All very friendly… big handshake at the conclusion of meeting….then…. 5 days later I received my daughter’s plan and the funding had been cut by 50% in the Core funding!!! SO yet again we had to endure a very stressful 3 month review!! During this review I was asked to provide proof that my daughter still had Down’s syndrome!! Disgraceful. Our funding never went back to where it originally was… and now The Cerebral palsy association have increased their fees for respite care by more than 70% … so we are short of funds again. The whole system is an ongoing stressful nightmare.
Linda McCourt
Please help…. the NDIS is ruining our lives.