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 3:12:17 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.

It appears that families who have a requirement for assistance for disability have to jump through all sorts of hurdles in order to access assistance.

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

• More rights for people with a disability,
• Less red tape, with planning done locally by people who know their community,
• Access to reliable information about support options

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

• Education support (technology/services/equipment),
• Support for families and carers,
• Case management, planning and coordination

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

Having an autistic grandson has made me very aware of the difficulties facing all families who have an individual with a disability. I have also witnessed the worry and stress the parents caused to the parents when they are not sure where to obtain advice and access services.

There is also the uncertainty they face if their child does not qualify for the service he needs. This seems very unfair when families are working so hard already in order to cope with the child/person with the disability.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Mrs Maureen Butler