Children and Young People with Disability Australia
PO Box 172, Clifton Hill VIC 3068 P: 03 9417 1025 P: 1800 222 660 (regional or interstate) E: info@cyda.org.au ABN: 42 140 529 273 | Children and Young People with Disability Australia
3 October 2018 Committee Secretary Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme PO Box 6100 Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 Email: ndis.sen@aph.gov.au
Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme inquiry into Assistive Technology.
CYDA is the national representative organisation for children and young people with disability, aged 0 to 25 years. CYDA is a not for profit organisation with 5300 members, the majority being families. CYDA provides a link between the direct experience of children and young people with disability to the Australian Government and other key stakeholders.
The provision of Assistive Technology under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has specific implications and considerations for children and young people with disability. Childhood is a unique and dynamic period impacted by critical stages of growth and development and constantly changing needs experienced by all children. The timely and responsive provision of Assistive Technology will often be critical to ensuing the long term benefits of key developmental stages are accessible to children and young people with disability.
Unfortunately, due to capacity constraints, CYDA is unable to-provide a full and detailed submission to this inquiry. However, as part of its consultation relevant to this inquiry, CYDA undertook a recent survey of young people with disability and families regarding Assistive Technology. A summary of the results from this survey are attached and provide a recent snapshot of the experiences of children and young people with disability requesting and accessing Assistive Technology under the NDIS.
CYDA would welcome the opportunity to discuss the experiences of children and young people with disability further, if that would be of assistance to the Committee.
CYDA thanks the Committee for the opportunity to contribute to the present inquiry.
Website www.cyda.org.au Facebook facebook.com/CDISAUS Twitter @CDA39
CYDA ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SURVEY 2018 SUMMARY
Participants: 198
In What Capacity Are You Completing This Survey?
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Young person with disability | 2 |
| Family member or care giver of a child or young person with disability | 97 |
| Other | 1 |
1. What Age Is The Child Or Young Person?
| Age (Years) | Response Rate (%) |
|---|---|
| 0-3 | 3 |
| 4-6 | 15 |
| 7-9 | 20 |
| 10-12 | 16 |
| 13-15 | 16 |
| 16-18 | 10 |
| >18 | 6 |
| No response provided | 14 |
2. What Is The Current Gender Identity Of The Child Or Young Person?
| Gender | Response Rate (%) |
|---|---|
| Male | 54 |
| Female | 45 |
| Genderqueer | 1 |
3. Is The Child Or Young Person Of Aboriginal Or Torres Strait Islander Background?
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Yes, Aboriginal | 7 |
| Yes, Torres Strait Islander | 1 |
| No | 92 |
4. What State Or Territory Do You Line In?
| State or Territory | Response Rate (%) |
|---|---|
| ACT | 2 |
| NSW | 32 |
| NT | 5% |
| QLD | 12 |
| SA | 13 |
| TAS | 7 |
| VIC | 33 |
| WA | 5% |
Page 3
5. WHAT TYPE OF AREA DO YOU LIVE IN?
AREA RESPONSE RATE % Metropolitan 52 Regional 37 Rural 11
6. WHICH CIRCUMSTANCES BEST APPLY TO THE CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON?
CIRCUMSTANCES RESPONSE RATE % Funded NDIS participant 87 An NDIS plan has been approved but services and supports are not yet being accessed 9 Other 4
7. HOW IS THE FUNDING FOR SUPPORT MANAGED UNDER THE CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON’S PLAN?
MANAGEMENT TYPE RESPONSE RATE % Self-managed 42 Partially self-managed 17 Managed by a registered plan manager 19 Managed by the NDIA 19 Managed by a plan nominee 3
8. SELECT THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT BEST APPLY TO THE CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON.
CIRCUMSTANCES RESPONSE RATE % Assistive Technology has been funded under an | 34 approved NDIS plan
Assistive Technology has been requested but 15 not yet included in an approved NDIS plan
Assistive Technology has been approved but 8 not yet provided
Assistive Technology is being trialled 1 Assistive Technology has been provided 4 Assistive Technology request has been denied 14 Plan is currently under review 6 Assistive Technology is not required 11 Other 7
9. WHAT LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY IS THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.
LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY RESPONSE RATE % Level 1/Basic 24 Level 2/Standard 25 Level 3/Specialised 22 Level 4/Complex 16 | don’t know 13
10. How Long Did It Take to Get the Funding for Assistive Technology Request Processed?
| TIME | RESPONSE RATE % |
|---|---|
| <1 month | 4 |
| 1-3 months | 18 |
| 4-6 months | 25 |
| 7-9 months | 11 |
| 10- 12 months | 21 |
| More than 1 year | 21 |
11. What Was the Length of Time Between Approval Being Obtained and Being Provided With the Assistive Technology?
| TIME | RESPONSE RATE % |
|---|---|
| <1 month | 5 |
| 1-3 months | 31 |
| 4-6 months | 42 |
| 7- 9 months | 0 |
| 10- 12 months | 11 |
| More than 1 year | 11 |
12. Do You Feel You Were Provided with Adequate Information About How to Request, Identify, Trial and Purchase Assistive Technology?
| RESPONSE | RESPONSE RATE % |
|---|---|
| No | 86 |
| Yes | 14 |
13. How Did You Get Information About Assistive Technology? Select All That Apply.
| RESPONSE | RESPONSE RATE % |
|---|---|
| NDIS website | 10 |
| NDIS factsheet | 3 |
| NDIS Local Area Coordinator | 7 |
| NDIS Planner | 5 |
| Disability service provider | 13 |
| Community Organisation | 4 |
| Family, friend or other personal contact | 10 |
| Allied Health professional | 25 |
| Didn’t receive any information | 14 |
| Other | 7 |
14. Was the Child or Young Person Required to Undertake an Assistive Technology Assessment?
| RESPONSE | RESPONSE RATE % |
|---|---|
| No | 66 |
| Yes | 34 |
15. HOW DID YOU FIND THE PROCESS FOR ACCESSING AN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT?
RESPONSE ## ### RESPONSE RATE %
Easy 14 Ok 23 Difficult 63
16. WHO UNDERTOOK THE ASSESSMENT?\n
RESPONSE ## ### RESPONSE RATE %
AT Mentor 0 Allied Health Professional 73 Other 27
17. WAS THE ADVICE PROVIDED BY THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT OVERTURNED BY\nThe NDIS?\n
RESPONSE ## ### RESPONSE RATE %
No 58 Yes 42
18. HAVE YOU SOUGHT OR UNDERTAKEN A REVIEW OF THE CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON’S NDIS PLAN IN RELATION TO ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?\n
RESPONSE ## ### RESPONSE RATE %
No 69 Yes 31
19. WHERE YOU PROVIDED WITH ONGOING AND ADEQUATE SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENT AND/OR\nPERSONALISE THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?
RESPONSE ## ### RESPONSE RATE %
No 87 Yes 13