NDIA Accountability Project

Support for therapies and inclusion for child with Down syndrome

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 9:38:23 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.

Funding is limited and services are extremely stretched due to the demand. I feel that my daughter is sometimes put at a disadvantage because the help she needs is not there for when she needs it. She does get the assistance but sometimes when she no longer requires it but I still access the service because we have waited and I just don’t know when we will be able to or need to access.

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

  • Ensure support and equipment is available when needed,
  • More employment of people with disability and less reliance on social welfare,
  • More rights for people with a disability

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

  • Therapy and allied health services,
  • Equipment and home/vehicle modifications,
  • Case management, planning and coordination

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

My youngest child has Down syndrome. I rely on government funded assistance to provide the therapies she needs. I also work for Centrelink and see the life that she will have to live on a limited income that does not allow her to access and pay for the services that she may need throughout her life and will have to forego because she cannot afford to pay. I hope and work towards her living a life of full inclusion in the community and this includes fare pay for the work she will do and extra assistance for her to get that work and maintain it. As she is only three it is hard to anticipate what her needs and even her hopes and dreams will be for the future, I just want there to be an opportunity for her to achieve whatever she wants and to be able to live a full and financially independent life where she can get the things she needs to do so.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Ms Celeste Cunningham