NDIA Accountability Project

Family's challenges with respite and accommodation services

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: Friday, 18 January 2013 7:06:48 AM

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.

Having a member of the family who has a severe disabilty presents various problems and issues. My wife and I have been the primary care givers for our disabled son for nearly 25 years. There comes a time where our son needs to achieve independance for himself and we need to achieve independance for ourselves.

At present the current disability system is under resourced and lacks re-current funding. There are no options, you just take what you can get. In particular respite and accommodation services are very limited in our local area.

We need to be a family with our other children and the current disability system excludes us from doing this. Holidays, nights out to the movies and spontaneous outings arte out of the question as you never know what fascilities may or may not be available.

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

  • People with a disability can choose the types of support to use,
  • People with a disability can plan their lives and pursue their goals and dreams,
  • Increased ability to coordinate services to suit the “whole” person/family

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

  • Accommodation options,
  • Flexible in-home/outside home respite,
  • Case management, planning and coordination

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

Ther area of disability is well under resourced and I believe the NDIS is a step in the right direction to obtain re-current funding to support those in our community. Hopefully it will provide options and allow families and care givers greater flexibility

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards, Mr Paul Hammond