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 4:15:40 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.

Currently the disibility system doesn’t work for me or my family (daughter) is due to the fact that all respite in our area has to be paid for when being used. The Gov’t will grant funds to agencies who supply respite, but there is a ‘limited’ amount to each area & generally when I need to acccess respite & ask for assistance with costs, there are no funds left as the high demand in the Wagga area does not have enough respite to cover the outgoing need for financial support not to mention the high demands… thus we miss out as we cannot afford what is available…

It can be resolved quite easily by building/opening/renovating more premises/houses to cater for people with a disibility & assisted living placements that are so desperately needed…

Main features of the NDIS that will make a difference to the community:

• Ensure support and equipment is available when needed,
• People with a disability can choose the types of support to use,
• Better access to mainstream support and services,
• Better access to education and work opportunities,
• More opportunities to participate in the community,
• More employment of people with disability and less reliance on social welfare,
• More rights for people with a disability,
• People with a disability can plan their lives and pursue their goals and dreams,
• People with a disability can choose who comes into their home,
• 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,
• Less red tape, with planning done locally by people who know their community,
• Access to reliable information about support options,
• People with disability/family will influence the types of support and s ervices offered,
• Older parents and families will not worry what happens when they can no longer provide support.

Most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

• Therapy and allied health services,
• Equipment and home/vehicle modifications,
• Education support (technology/services/equipment),
• Life-skills,
• Employment support,
• Recreation and community access,
• Support for families and carers,
• Accommodation options,
• In-home care and domestic assistance,
• Flexible in- home/outside home respite,
• Case management, planning and coordination,
• Crisis and emergency support,
• Positive behaviour support and psychological services,
• Interpreters and other communication support.

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

Because with the National Disability Insurance Scheme, everyone who is affected

by a disability be that intellectual or physical can be catered for & be able to afford what they need on a daily basis instead of going through relentless red tape, assessments, paperwork & completing hundreds of forms every time the person affected by his/her disability needs to access services &/or purchase aids/help e tc…

There is so much political red tape encasing Disabilities that there is virtually no progress towards solving the ongoing issues associated with caring for or being affected by disabilities..!!

I agree for my submission to be made public