NDIA Accountability Project

Son’s head injury and challenges supporting him

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: Saturday, 19 January 2013 9:50:26 AM

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.

We are the elderly parents of a head injured son, now aged 50, who is becoming increasingly dependent. His physical disabilities prevent him from walking or carrying out tasks about the house. He is mentally alert but unable to plan and organize his life. He has poor short term memory. He is eligible for a support package but has already been waiting for two and a half years for one to become available. He has been assessed as requiring at least 25 hours a week attendant care, he currently has 10 hours which is all his funds allow. The gap is filled by us, his parents, and a friend of the family. Suitable respite accommodation is hard to find and available subsidies cover less than one third of the cost. These demands on our time and energy are excessive and we wonder how much longer we can keep it up. It is really difficult to get even a week’s break. We worry about what will happen when we can no longer support him.

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

  • Ensure support and equipment is available when needed,
  • The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person,
  • 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:

  • Recreation and community access,
  • Flexible in-home/outside home respite,
  • Case management, planning and coordination

I support the introduction of the NDIS. Because it aims to be fair. It will support people according to their needs using carefully thought out criteria. It will not be dependent on where a person lives or how their disability was acquired.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards, Mrs Hilary Conway