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 12:04:52 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.

I have a 18 year old son with Down Syndrome. As he is now becoming a man he wants to spend less time with me & more time with other community members. With better & more respite service wishes could be met. Instead he gets to go to bowling, swimming & other things that all teenagers can expect to do with his Mother.

He will often say to me “Mum, I am a grown man, I would like to go”. But as all participation needs to be supervised, this is not possible for him. Who wants to hang out with their Mum all the time?

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,
• More opportunities to participate in the community,
• Increased ability to coordinate services to suit the “whole” person/family

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

• Support for families and carers,
• Flexible in-home/outside home respite,
• Case management,
• Planning and coordination

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

I would like to see changes made. I would like to be able to participate more in the choices or services needed for my Family & Son.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Ms Anne-Maree Northey