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 3:16:14 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.

The disability system focuses on early intervention but does not recognise that children and families still need support as the children start school and get older. The fact that funding drops off after the early years almost implies that the children no longer need ongoing support.

As a parent of two Aspergers children, we are very frustrated that they “fall between the stools” every time we try unsuccessfully to apply for some funding support. They tend not to have a “serious enough” disability to qualify for funding and yet they really do need a lot of support.

The current disability system leaves you on a never ending queue - we have been trying to get some support from the government for many many years with no success.

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,
• The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person,
• 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

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

-Therapy and allied health services

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

The current system is broken. I am hoping that the NDIS will make a difference that is so badly needed.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards, Mrs Sandy Morris