Submission No 37
INQUIRY INTO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME AND THE PROVISION OF DISABILITY SERVICES IN NEW SOUTH WALES
Name: Name suppressed Date Received: 9 July 2018
Partially Confidential
My wife is legally blind and needs an Oricom Text Reader which is available from Vision Australia (1300 654 656), they cost approximately $8,000 which we find beyond our means. It will enable her to photograph text, digitise it, convert it into analog and play the audio signal though a miniature speaker located beside her ear. It will also recognise faces and tell her who is approaching. see photographs attached. One would think Blindness would be recognised internationally as being a handicap however, the NDIS is not willing to assist her simply because she is over the age of 65, that is discrimination. Our federal local member Mr. Angus Taylor MP has referred me to the NSW Aids and Equipment Program, unfortunately while they do have mobility aids there is no equipment to suit those who are blind.