Independent Assessments

                                 Submission 286

31st March 2021

Submission for Independent Assessments.

I am concerned about the proposed changes to the NDIA for Independent Assessments, and how that will impact on the supports for my daughter. I do agree that it is important for funding for supports to be provided in a fair manner, but I do not believe that funding plans based on Independent Assessments are going to be fair and equitable.

My daughter is Autistic, with significant support needs.

My two main concerns with Independent Assessments, as it relates to my daughter are;

1. The Assessor will not know my daughter personally, therefore, will not be able to accurately assess her needs. It takes a long time to build my daughter's trust, and she becomes highly anxious when people come into our home. She rarely comes out to speak to our family, let alone someone she has never met before who wants to ask a number of questions. She will likely hide in the chicken coup and become distressed if the Assessor tries to engage with her. I very much doubt that her needs can be assessed accurately due to the social and anxiety-related difficulties she experiences with her disability.

2. I doubt that the Assessor will have in-depth knowledge and experience of my daughter’s presentation of Autism. There are a very limited number of health professionals who can assist with her complex needs, as she has a rare presentation of Autism. It has taken a painstaking amount of time and effort and expense to find a team of medical professionals who understand, and can assist, with her specific needs. My daughters Paediatrician, Psychologist, Psychiatrist and Occupational Therapist are all specialists in her presentation of Autism. It takes a team of carefully sought out, specialist, health professionals to accurately assess her needs. This assessment cannot be done accurately by one, randomly selected Assessor.

Your careful consideration of how Independent Assessments will impact on people with disabilities and their family’s is paramount. We rely so much on the NDIA to help support our daughter’s needs, her disability has meant our costs to raise her are significantly increased, while our income has decreased by a whole full-time wage, as I am home as her full-time carer.