NDIA Accountability Project

Challenges accessing prosthetic legs under the NDIS

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Submission No 259

INQUIRY INTO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME AND THE PROVISION OF DISABILITY SERVICES IN NEW SOUTH WALES

Name: Mr Russell Bonney Date Received: 9 August 2018

Inquiry into the implementation of the NDIS and provision of disability services in NSW.

My name is Russell Bonney and I have been a right leg transtibial amputee for 24 years. I was originally on the Queensland Artificial Limb Service but was informed my funding support would end as the NDIS rolled out into my area. So I applied to the NDIS and in due course I had a plan approved on the 8th of November 2017. The plan provided support with daily activities and health and well being which I took advantage of engaging a exercise physiologist and going to the gym. This greatly helped my mobility as I lost 15kg and got a lot fitter. But what I really need to improve my mobility is the “Assistive Technology”, prosthetic legs. I started the process of getting one through my Provider in November 2017(please see attached file “Requested NDIS interaction timeline”) to date the 9th of August 2018 I still have not had a prosthetic leg provided to me even though the three plans approved by the NDIS make provision for one. Please bare in mind the most important thing the NDIS can provide to me to assist with my disability is fit for purpose prosthetic legs “Assistive Technology”. I have laboured this point with the NDIS to no avail. A prosthetic leg was due to be approve no later than the 24th of July this has not occurred and no reason can be extracted from the NDIS to date. I believe the NDIS can and will be a great bonus to people with disabilities enabling them to contribute and be more invovled in their communities. But It needs to be :

  1. More flexible to the real needs of their clients to achieve their goals. Not what they think they need.

  2. Process requests for Assistive Technology in a more timely manner!

  3. Transparency and accountability in the approval process.

  4. Lose the defensive and bureaucratic mind set. As I stated earlier the NDIS is a great improvement for people with disabilities. But it needs to remember what its original objectives were and listen to its clients.

Thanks for letting me put forward this submission I apologize for the rambling nature of it. But this is not something I’m comfortable doing.

Yours Sincerely Russell Bonney.