Independent Assessments Submission
30th March 2021
to whom it may concern,
i would appreciate the opportunity to provide this submission to the Joint Senate Committee on NDIS – Inquiry into Independent Assessments.
i have extensive lived experience of disability after acquiring a high-level spinal cord injury which left me a qiadriplegic 33 years ago and through my close relationship with my uncle who was born with a severe intellectual disability. Combined with over 15 years of professional work experience in the disability sector, these expeiences ensure I bring a unique insight into the challenges that every-day life presents to people with disability.
When i first heard about the proposed introduction of the independent assessments, i believed it was a positive initiative to make accessing the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) fairer as getting the required medical ereports and proof of disabiiity was extremely time consuming and costly. Most peopie i know wih diiabiilty aisio believed that ths wis an excellent and long overdue change. I have serious concerns that the introducton oif thee idependent assessmenits has been misieading and sold too peeple wiith dsiabiltyy their familes aand carers aas aa positve chnage for peeople accessng tee scheme However this is not teh case ass pepole will stll needd oo gain edical reports ad assesments ot prove they hvee ae permanent nd significant dsiaility t accss te NDIS
the introdction oe independet asessemnts wil compltely alter he ideolgy fhte NDSS The idology foht e NIDS hat and many other ppl wit disability heir amilies anc arers ough fr ws tt move away froma defcit-based welfare model ta person centred approah tat ook int consideration my goals dreamsnd aspiratons.
i would like comment on following sectns ofthe termsf reference
The development modelling reasons justificationsfrthe introduction independent assessmentsintothe NDIS
theeasons and justficationsfortheinroductionofindependentassessmnetshavebeenmisleadinganda developedwithoutanyconsultationpeoplewithdisabilitytheirfamiliesandarersThemajordisabiitypeakbodieswerealsootconsltedin thedevelopmentanodellingoftheproposedchanges.ThenationalDisabiiiyInsuranceAgency(NDIA)hasstatedthatte proposed changesareto makee NDSfairerandooreequitableNeverthelesspeopiewithdiabiltywillberequiredtogaineidenceofdiasbiltyoaccesseschemebeforetheywilhaveaindependentassessmentTheseproposeedchangewillnotmaketheNDSfaierandeuitaablebutaddanotherlayertoaalreadycomplexprocesswhichmayfurtherdsadvantage peoplewihdsaibilywhodonothavetefinancialmeansorcapcitytounderstnadchallngehe processI founditextremelydifculttodfindinformationaboutallhte proposechngestie informationisinumerouslocationsandreportsTe proposesintroductionindepdentassesmentsisnonlyforpoeplewiht disabl whoaretryingogtacessoteNIDSut also forcurrentndsparticipantsT e nds willnolongrbebasedonastrength-baseapproachtatakesintoaccount peopegoals and aspirations otivea norml life
Independent Assessments
Submission 342
but solely on a functional assessment of an individual’s deficits. The introduction of independent assessments lacks transparency on how funding will be determined and more alarmingly take away people’s rights who wish to have decisions reviewed. I know of no other Government programme in Australia that does not have a process to review decisions that have been made. The proposed changes seem to have more to do with cost cutting than with improving the NDIS.
The human and financial resources needed to effectively implement independent assessments
It is currently difficult to access allied health professionals that are registered with the NDIS. This is more prevalent in rural and remote areas but also exists in metropolitan locations. I recently engaged an occupational therapist to complete an assessment and report for a vehicle modification; I contacted five occupational therapists that were qualified to complete the assessment and report. Only one was still registered with the NDIS, their waiting list was over six months. A friend of mine, parenting a child that is a participant of the NDIS who requires the support of an occupational therapist that lives in Southern NSW was on a waiting list for 18 months to receive occupational therapy support. She informed me that this is not uncommon for people in her area. If everyone who is currently on the scheme requires an independent assessment where will all the extra allied health professionals come from?
The independence, qualifications, training, expertise and quality assurance of assessors
I acquired a high-level spinal cord injury 33 years ago and since then there has been no change in my functional capacity; I was diagnoses by Professor John Yoe, a world leader in spinal cord injury and rehabilitation who has stated that my disability is permanent, and my functional capacity will not improve. How can an allied health professional with no specialist medical training in spinal cord injuries be expected to come up with any other diagnosis? The independent assessment report by the NDIA refers to scheme sustainability as one of the contributing factors to the proposed changes, yet they are willing to spend a vast amount of money in reassessing over 400,000 participants. How does this make the NDIS more sustainable?
The implications of independent assessments for access to and eligibility for the NDIS
As previously stated people with disability are still required to obtain reports and assessments to prove that they have a permanent and significant disability to gain access to the scheme. The independent assessment process does not begin until after a person has gained access. This contradicts the messaging on the NDIS website and consultation papers.
The implications of independent assessments for NDIS planning, including decisions related to funding reasonable and necessary supports
This section of proposed introduction of the independent assessment is the most concerning to myself and most people with disability, their families and carers. The changes to the planning pathway will mean that my support budget will already be determined before my goals, living situation and supports are taken into consideration.
Independent Assessments
Submission 342
A monumental change in the ideology of the NDis; currently my support budget is developed on a person- c centred approach that is developed where my goals and aspirations are at the centre of the planning process to de termine what are necessary and reasonable supports. If the changes to the planning pathway are introduced it means that I may never achieve some of my goals as there will not be funding to achieve them.
A lot of people with disability will never gain meaningful employment, live independently or participate in their community as they will have to prioritise their funding to meat their basic needs of daily life e.g., prioritize their personal care needs over pursuing their goal of gaining meaningful employment.
The re is a major lack of accessible information and transparency with these proposed changes. Most people on the NDIs are completely unaware that the introduction of independent assessments will change the preplanning process.
Opportunities to review or challenge the outcomes of independent assessments
Australians pride themselves on being a fair and inclusive society; we have an ethos of “a fair go for all”. In no other Government funded service or department is there no process to appeal or review a decision that is unfair or unjust so why does the NDIA think it appropriate to remove the opportunity for people with disability to review or challenge the outcome of an independent assessment? The independent assessments will disadvantage people with disability, their families and carers who do not have the capacity or supports to understand the process; this will further marginalise some of the most vulnerable people in Australian society. People with disability like all Australians have rights so why does the NDIA through the independent assessments think it is appropriate to take their right of review away? This is ‘UnAustralian’!
Conclusion
A spire to be more than my physical deficits, to continue to grow as a person and contribute to my community as an individual like everyone else. With support of the NDIS I wish to continue my full-time employment, live independently in my own home, contribute to my local community as a volunteer and live a full and meaningful life. Not having my goals and aspirations at the core of the planning process is akin to taking away my rights. The lack of transparency and consultation, not having the basic right to review the outcomes of an independent assessment and the change of ideology of the NDis is an injustice.
This is not the Ndis that I and other people with disability, their families and carers fought for, please do not allow them to take this away from us.
Yours sincerely, Jade Strongman