NDIA Accountability Project

Access to prosthetics and independent living for an amputee

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Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012

From: To: Community Affairs, Committee (SEN); Subject: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012 Date: Thursday, 17 January 2013 6:28:14 PM

Please consider this email a formal submission by me to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012.

The current disability system has many problems that need to be addressed.

See below.

The main features of the NDIS that will make a difference to the community are:

  • Ensure support and equipment is available when needed,
  • More opportunities to participate in the community,
  • People with a disability can plan their lives and pursue their goals and dreams

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

  • Equipment and home/vehicle modifications,
  • Education support (technology/services/equipment),
  • Recreation and community access

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

I am a 25 year old amputee. I require prosthetics to be independent. Through the support of my prosthetist, I have had access to the services I needed to be independent. As I have grown up and been exposed to the other challenges faced by my fellow Australian’s I see that this is not the case for all. This is why we need the changes that would be brought in by the NDIS.

We all have unique disabilities and it is not about whether you need a leg, an electric wheelchair or daily support to attend school. It is about ensuring that all Australians have access to this support. When you provide services and support, you remove the barriers, people can choose their way. Whatever that way will be.

The Paralympic movement demonstrated that currently in Australia there are people with disabilities who are dominating the sporting arena. We produced the most successful Paralympic team yet and boasted 5th on the medal tally, in the world! I could not be prouder to be among such a group.

We love our sport in Australia, but just like we do not expect a child to become an Olympian instead of a doctor, nurse, teacher, policy maker, the Paralympic movement and awareness of capability having NOTHING TO DO WITH DISABILITY needs to carry over into all aspects of Australian life.

As a public health student, my research is focused on the benefits of physical activity. For Paralympians, we would be smashing the recommended physical activity requirements for Australians. Just as I would expect most Olympians are probably fulfilling the recommendations of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity daily. However, the requirements are for all Australians, yet do all people with disabilities have access to be able to achieve the recommended amounts for good health? If people do not have access to the services and products that enable them to fulfill basic requirements for health, this is providing a barrier to good health.

Recent public health studies indicated that Australian’s are living longer, but with

more disability. (Article featured on UQ website: http://www.sph.uq.edu.au/news) Therefore, there is a need to address how living with a disability should not be the beginning of the end, but barriers imposed by disability, simply removed. Having a disability should no longer be a determinant of a lesser quality of life. We can achieve this!

Its about removing a stigma associated with disability that means you are unable to do something and making it about, finding the new way to do something. What concerns me is that this is not something that is happening for many of my fellow Australians. There are not the options of removing the barriers that exist. We need to continue to strive to ensure that one by one, these barriers are removed.

I choose to play Wheelchair Basketball and I strive to be the best athlete I can be. I choose to travel and walk the stairs instead of the escalator every time I commute via subway in Hamburg where I am playing professionally as a Wheelchair Basketballer, because I have the prosthetics that enable me to do this. I choose to be a student in the field of Public Health. I choose to travel independently, without assistance. I am not denied these options because of a physical condition. No Australian should.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Miss Bridie Kean