Dear NDI Committee,

I would like to provide you with positive feedback in relation to the NDIs support and planning for my son aged 18 years ( Cerebral Palsy and an Intellectual Disability).

Prior to July 2014 (when my son entered the Perth WA Hills NDIS pilot) we were as a family ignored and and treated sub standardly by under qualified staff and a broken system that was the states existing Disability support program. So much so I made complaints at local office, Director and Ministerial levels. It was exhausting, frustration and made me angry.

Since July 2014 and my sons first Plan with NDIS our lives have changed dramatically for the better. So thank you.

The key to this success I feel is having a contracted Health Professional (Occupational Therapist) compile my son’s first Plan. This planner just ‘got it’, professional, knowledgeable, analytical, everything needed for a great plan.

All subsequent plans (4) since then have followed on and although the planners now often are not Health Professionals the solid first ‘Blue print’ remains in place and the small changes and additions are made accordingly as my son needs have changed from that of a cild to that of an adult.

I wrote to the WA Minister for Disability Services in support of the National NDIs for WA residents. I was fearful that the WA Version of the NDI would revert back to the broken system prior to the Perth Hills trial, with lack of quality and qualified staff and lack of basic services.

All Australians should have a universal Disability Support System no matter what state they live in and I am so very please as my sons advocate this is now the case with the National NDIS.

I self manage most of my sons funding which I find gives him much more choice and value for the funds provided. Yes, it requires extra work on my part however the greater value and choice of services he gets makes it very much worth it. I am fortunate that I had preexisting skills to be able to self manage on my sons behalf and I also applaud the training and information provided by NDIS for other advocates, guardians and administrators to be able to consider doing the same.

Thank you on behalf of my son for reading this feedback in relation the NDIS, it has positivity changed the lives of my son, me as his carer and my other son, who is also a brother and young carer.

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