NDIA Accountability Project

Difficulties with wheelchair suitability and NDIS process

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Submission No 51

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

Name: Mr Patrick Hayes Date Received: 10 July 2018

Patrick Hayes

Participant Number:

Participants Submission to NDIS in response to email received.

The New South Wales state parliament is currently holding an inquiry into the NDIS

ALL Assistant Technology equipment wheelchairs etc. should be tested by the person with the disability, before being issued, for suitability, reliablity and comfortableness. Especially when it take so long to get approval for the equipment in the first place.

The NDIS participant should be able to have a say in the brand of the equipment and not be forced to take whatever Enable supply. My previous wheelchair was a Glide and has been a hardy strong wheelchair. My requests for another Glide brand wheelchair was either not available or a brand Enable do not supply.

  1. I have been forced to take a wheelchair delivered which is NOT suitable. It is not well designed and is actually dangerous. It was not assembled to suit me and I had to request a User Manual to adjust it myself.

  2. There is high danger of losing a finger or damaging your hand while turning the wheel the armrest attachment is not easy to get to due to the screw etc. jutting out the side where you have to place your hand and fingers to turn the wheel.

  3. The wheelchairs self-propelled wheels are too close to the sides and do not leaving not enough space between the armrest sides and large wheels.

  4. The front wheels are too big and cut access down when turning or on the carpet. I am purchasing another two off the net to suit the use I need inside for turning e tc.

  5. If you use the cushion supplied, a necessity when sitting in a wheelchair all day. It raises the height of the seat causing your hands to smash into the arm rest when you bring them in from the side stopping quick movements when needed

  6. I have NO control of my left side meaning my knee continually hits the side foot control arm creatingh an ongoing painful spot. I searched the “Invacare” site online to try to purchase something to prevent this from happening. The brand

“Invacare” does NOT appear to have anything available to support this problem.

Thankyou for the opportunity you have given me to put a problem I have found in the NDIS process.