Submission to NDIS regarding Individual Assessments February 2021.
SUBMISSION
I am making this submission on behalf of my 23 years old son, who has Autism and Intellectual\ndisability, and does not understand the details of the NDIS, and to go through a further assessment\ncreates enormous anxiety, stress and is challenging already to try explaining the rigours involved in
tquestioning, to which he usually answers yes, or echolalic responses.\n
The introduction of the NDIS has improved greatly his opportunities to live a more meaningful,\nvalued, constructive life that he takes pride in, generates self esteem and confidence and that he\nenjoys. He enjoys challenges to reach his potential in a supported environment: challenges that are reasonable and necessary but with appropriate guidance and care. To subject him to a stranger asking questions about his disability just further entrenches the negative aspects of his disability.\nThis turn around in questioning was a great break through with the introduction of the NDIS asking what help, supports, therapies, teaching do I need to live a full and meaningfullife, rather than previously asking about my disabilities and what can’t I do and therefore need assistance. To focus \non the disabilities with a new independent assessment gathering knowledge, rather than the supports required to lead life within the community, is a detrimental step backwards.
Some of the Terms of Reference: d & g
1. d. The independence, qualifications, training, expertise and quality assurance of assessors;
Currently prior to each NDIS planning meeting, assessments are sought from all service providers who work with the participant throughout the year. Alex has ASD and ID, so to gain trust in a provider requires a built up confidence and respect through building a relationship. Only then and largely through personalised knowledge would a provider be able to ascertain the needs of the individual, through their ongoing working relationship.\nto ask questions to complete an assessment would be extremely difficult and most misleading. Alex would most likely provide yes answers to most questions or echolalia:, repeating what came at the end of the sentence. To many who do not know him, this seems as if he has understood the question and answered appropriately.\nPhysically he is extremely capable and extremely fit and healthy, but cognitive capacity\nis much reduced and with years of training in social skills, he is proficient in making the expected social replies.
2. g. The implications of independent assessments for NDIS planning,
including decisions related to funding reasonable and necessary supports; \ Reasonable and necessary supports to …. Provide a range of supports to live a good life, a productive life and one that is on a par with the rest of Australian society. It takes time to establish what a person is striving to achieve in their life, and knowledge of the person and their efforts, to appreciate what they have achieved in their goals and supports required to do this. Some continuity of professionals is most efficient and effective to this end. Constant changes in personnel is what we continue to experience for our person with a disability and this proposal is instigating a further change in personnel, and exposure to more outsiders/new people providers. This exposure to change is a great source of anxiety, part of the autism and ID manifestation.
Independent Assessments
Submission 279
This change would also require greater input from carers/parents into the assessment to increase efficacy, rather than as it is currently done by a professional in each service area.
Would the independent assessment also deem that the goals are set by this independent assessment and therefore the ongoing professional would have to work to these goals set during an external assessment?
Key facts :
A key fact: An independent assessment will take around 3 hours - This is akin to torture to expect a person with Autism and intellectual disability to partake in a 3-hour appointment of any kind.
‘The assessments are free’ (Why we are introducing independent assessments | NDIS), to participants who are according to the NDIS website paying between “$130–170 million a year for assessments.
Who is then paying for the assessments? I am sure they are not being provided free of charge, and tax payers will be paying for them, as they are currently paying for the assessments through a participant’s NDIS plan.
Which company or companies are being tendered to do these ‘free’ assessments?
Names of companies to be disclosed before July 2021 rollout would provide transparency. It would appear to me that an opportunity for another tier of bureaucracy is being created for some huge financial gain for companies providing the assessments. New companies will be established to gain from this independent process.