NDIA Accountability Project

Support for autistic son and family’s wellbeing

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 9:39:09 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.

I am speaking on behalf of my best friend who has a severely autistic son and she comes froma single income family and puts her all into her son and of course her needs are last. She finds it hard to get support at times of need and the system seems clogged up and not enough staff to respond to community /families needs so families are left to cope the best way they know how. This then turns into stress and bad health for families who are trying to look after their disbaled children as well as the rest of the household.Sometimes all they need is a shoulder to cry on and to know that they are doing it right.

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

  • Ensure support and equipment is available when needed,
  • Increased ability to coordinate services to suit the “whole” person/family,
  • Older parents and families will not worry what happens when they can no longer provide support

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

  • Therapy and allied health services,
  • Equipment and home/vehicle modifications,
  • Flexible in-home/outside home respite

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

I feel this would take a lot of stress off families with disabled members and allow them easier access to facilities, information and help and know that if they for some reason can not continue looking after their disabled child that there is a back up plan in place that will help ease this burden. Any form of assurance whether it be insurance or just someone else in the same position will be of utmost importance to families. Please allow this scheme to be put in place as we all know someone with hardship and in life we need to look after those that we love and any life is worth preserving.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards, Ms Ella Giuffrida