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 1:48:16 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 am currently one of more fortunate families - my 23 years old son has multiple disabilities and has supported accommodation, employment and alternative to employment funding. Our journey has been rough. I fostered my son when he 4 months old and he remained under the care of DCP until he turned 18. I requested at the transition meeting that he have support accommodation and I took a Guardian role once transition to Disability Services Commission. Before he turned 15 we were unable to access disabilities respite services. His high support needs and challenging behaviour resulted in broken marriage, ex husband with a mental health and acquired head injury, a younger foster son develop a severe mental health condition that is now fortunately under control. During that dark period in our lives I had to sell the family home because I was unable to work due to my families special needs and move further away from family and community to buy a cheaper more affordable housing. A wee kend a month would have helped us whether the many storms but we never had that opportunity. When my son was 11 he develop a deteriorating and painful spine condition. He had surgery when he was 15 with major complications and took 9 months to recover. Again I was unable to work but we finally got some minimal HACC funding to help with his personal care during his recovery and then 3 hours HACC funded respite to shop and clean. As a broken family we are all in a far better position with the funding my son now has. Her is in a shared living arrangement with a family who built a unit for a brother and friends with carers. When the brother passed away the family opened up the unit for another person with a disability so the friend would not lose his home and the carers their employment. My son was the truly fortunate young man to be chosen and he has blossomed in this environment to become ready to move to supported independent living. Prior to this opportunity we had a disastrous group home with poor compatibility, abusive workers and financial exploitation. This caused us all considerable mental health concerns. I work as a coordinator in a not for profit disability service provider in home and community care. I have considerable experience working in the disability system and could write a book or two on how the disability system doesn’t work. Knowing my way around the system, funding and advocacy I have been able to get my family through to much happier and healthier place. Most families I know and work with have no idea how to negotiate the system some even don’t know there is a system.
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,
- The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person,
- Minimising the number of times people have to tell their story in order to get support
The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:
- Case management, planning and coordination,
- Crisis and emergency support,
- Positive behaviour support and psychological services
Support for Introduction of the NDIS
I support the introduction of the NDS.
The current system is broken Positive new start to viewing the lives, hopes and dreams of people with disabilities Chance for family to be supported as their children with disabilities develop Not having to tell our story over and over and over and over
I agree for my submission to be made public
Regards,
Ms Gaye Robertson