Our Voice SA - Concerns Regarding Proposed NDIS Changes
20th January 2021
to Whom It May Concern,
ndis Joint Standing Committee seniorclerk.committees.sen@aph.gov.au
The following correspondence has been sent from members of Our Voice South Australia (OVSA) in response to proposed changes regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Background context of Our Voice SA
Our Voice SA (OVSA) comprises a group of people living with Intellectual Disability who convene monthly for discussions about relevant issues.
Members possess diverse abilities; OVSA believes that difference is valuable. People living with an intellectual disability can become members of OVSA – friends or family may also be associate members.
What We Do:
- Speaks out on matters impacting individuals experiencing disabilities.
- Provides speakers interested in peer support and self-advocacy groups.
- Offers training opportunities related to advocacy skills.
- Acknowledges the importance of families as advocates, working collaboratively towards improved outcomes for their loved ones.
- Ensures voices are heard by those living with an intellectual disability.
OVSA advises, collaborates, consults upon specific topics/community concerns including involvement within policy design processes requiring input from persons affected by intellectual impairment.
Concerns Regarding Proposed Changes Announced By The NDIA
A decision was made which alters current NDIS procedures - this change does not sit well amongst our membership especially given ongoing Covid restrictions.
The period has been stressful due to limited social outings & work options being unavailable; most do not have access nor proficiency using technology needed online meetings / information retrieval.
An assembly occurred January 18th discussing changes regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) noting member responses below: These quotes represent direct statements shared during that meeting.
Concerns And Questions About Moving To An Independent Assessment Process
“I’ve spent years developing my plan – I love it! It’s concerning if these alterations will return me back square one.”
“Why can’t they focus on what is already in place instead?”
Concerns around removing Goals from each Participant’s Plan.
“Goals put things in a good perspective. Goals give direction - we need goals, so we know what to do next.”
“When I look at my goals, that is my life.”
“Goals are a word we all understand. We do not want them taken out of our plans - we do not want them replaced with some word we don’t understand.\rWe need it to be worded in simple terms. We understand the word goal and what it means.”
Concerns and questions around the Assessment process:
The changes would see the assessment determining the funding for each participant; once\rdeparticipants received their plan they would meet with a Local Area Coordinator who would support the participant to implement their Plan.
“I had to get my own letters from Doctors and Psychiatrist’s to prove my needs to the NDIS. This took a lot of my own time and caused me additional\ranxiety as I have mental health issues. I am nervous about the changes. NDIS are finally listening to me; Will the changes make it better? Also, why change\rings now during Covid.” People are already anxious/ bored/ mentally unwell/ not a good time to make these changes.”
“I had a change of support coordinator, but no-one let me know.“ I told them what I wanted, and the Planner wrote it up differently. It is still not sorted \rout.”
“Are they going to do some books about the changes in a way we can understand?”
“Organisations would not do anything anyway to help us”.