NDIA Accountability Project

Daughter with cerebral palsy and family's financial burden

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 10:58:20 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.

The current system leaves both the physical and financial burden of caring for our daughter with cerebral palsy in our laps which means we spend a lot of time and money gathering information about services and then trying to access them. Whilst the Better Start program has been invaluable in assisting with some of the financial burden it stops when she is 7 despite the fact that her need for services is increasing. It is short sighted. We really want our daughter to contribute to society in a meaningful way in the future and school years are crucial. Support above and beyond what school can offer is absolutely vital in preparing her for the world beyond school and helping her reach her potential.

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

  • Better access to mainstream support and services,
  • Better access to education and work opportunities,
  • More opportunities to participate in the community,
  • More employment of people with disability and less reliance on social welfare,
  • People with a disability can plan their lives and pursue their goals and dreams,
  • Minimising the number of times people have to tell their story in order to get support,
  • Less red tape, with planning done locally by people who know their community,
  • Access to reliable information about support options,
  • Removal of age barriers to services for children,
  • 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,
  • Education support (technology/services/equipment),
  • Employment support

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

It will provide a real possibility of my daughter working in the future without the financial barriers that the current system places on her. It will give me peace of mind that she will have better possibility of a fulfilling work life and social opportunity when I am dead.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards, Dr Sarah Lindsay