NDIA Accountability Project

Caring for a daughter with disabilities and parental employment challenges

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 1:42:22 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.

My husband and I are left to struggle with our careers to care for our 28 year old daughter. Young people with disabilities attend ‘token’ work placements for less hours than the average day leaving it impossible for many parents to gain employment.

Parents who have not taken their children’s pensions now find that the children are loosing or being cut back on the pension because their is too much in their account which parents have been putting aside when they are no longer able to look after their disabled child.

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

  • Ensure support and equipment is available when needed,
  • People with a disability can choose the types of support to use,
  • Better access to mainstream support and services,
  • Better access to education and work opportunities,
  • More opportunities to participate in the community,
  • More rights for people with a disability,
  • 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,
  • Minimising the number of times people have to tell their story in order to get support,
  • 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:

  • Employment support,
  • Support for families and carers,
  • Accommodation options,
  • In-home care and domestic assistance,
  • Flexible in-home/outside home respite,
  • Case management, planning and coordination,
  • Positive behaviour support and psychological services

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

Without it what do we have.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards, Mrs Linda Dwight