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 2:10:16 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.

As aging parents with no other family members we are very concerned for our daughters future. Finding supported accomodation to suit her needs,in a community she has grown to know, rather than the next available bed, has been an issue for us for many years.We need a planned future for her rather than ‘an any thing will do’ reponse when the crisis comes. If such planning were part of the system older parents like us could let go and have at least a bit of a life of our own. We need to know she is safe , happy and living a full life with the support she needs.

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

• People with a disability can plan their lives and pursue their goals and dreams,
• People with disability/family will influence the types of support and services offered,
• 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:

• Accommodation options,
• In-home care and domestic assistance,
• Case management, planning and coordination

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

One hopes the NDIS will eventually change the pattern of services to the disabled from dealing with the crisis to planning to ensure the unessessary crisis will be avoided. People lives can be seen as valuable and they can take their place in the community without having to constantly negotiate for acceptance and recognition. Utopia I am aware , however having battled all our daughters life for her place in the community it would so good if this did not need to keep happening to others yet to come.

My one comcern is that funding for progressive and innovative projects which have developed in some communities will be redirected to Service providers. This might well mean the spontainious solutions to meet some of the needs of people with disabilities within communities may well diminish as a result of a lack of funding allocations for this purpose.it would be unwise to consider that all needs will be met by the NDIS and sadly some people who do not fit the criteria will be left without the support they need

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Parent Miriam High