Spam: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012

From: To: Community Affairs, Committee (SEN); Subject: Spam: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012 Date: Saturday, 19 January 2013 4:36:34 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.

We are currently very lucky that we have a good independent and consumer run service (Enhanced Lifestyle SA). But most are not so lucky……no flexibility, lack of portability, not enough hours to participate in most daily activity like education, employment and community activity. Many do not have control over who their support worker is, what skills they require to fulfill the needs of the pwd. Being able to have control is important. It’s important that people aren’t given a limited ‘menu’ but are able to use their funding to make the most of their goals contributing and being part of their community and family activity.

Currently trying to get services, support and appropriately accessible private and public housing in remote and rural regions, and particularly for indigenous people in remote lands has been almost impossible. NDIS must address these issues. These issues seem not to get much of a mention. I can only trust that the NDIS planning teams are working closely with indigenous leaders on these issues. I’ve recently been working in APY lands looking at housing and it’s nothing short of distressing and disturbing how little has been done in this area. The solutions to accessible/adaptable/ housing and equipment in these regions are going to need well thought out strategies and will not be easy, partly because of the geology and landscapes people live in and also because of costs. It’s vital that easy to read, understand and culturally relevant NDIS information is available in a range of formats and is not only computer/web-based…this limits access to information

• NOT EVERYONE HAS A COMPUTER or can get access to one, particularly if Shire and Fed government building are still so inaccessible.

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

-Equipments and supports should be made available when needed, -People with disability have choice over what type of support they use, -Better access to mainstream services and supports, -Increased opportunities for education and work participation, -More chances to take part in their communities, -Greater employment rates among persons living with disabilities while reducing reliance upon social welfare systems, -Larger number of rights granted towards individuals experiencing impairments, -Allowing those affected by conditions an opportunity plan life according to personal aspirations & dreams; -Determining who enters into ones household space freely chosen by oneself rather than imposed externally from others’ decisions regarding care provision arrangements; -Receiving assistance whenever required without unnecessary delays nor restrictions placed thereon based solely on arbitrary criteria unrelated directly impacting individual needs; -Strengthened capacity coordinating various aspects related specifically addressing comprehensive requirements encompassing entire person/family unit holistically considering all relevant factors simultaneously instead focusing narrowly onto isolated components alone; -Decrement frequency wherein people must recount experiences repeatedly just merely seeking aid thereby causing emotional distress due constant rehashing painful memories associated therewith; -Reduced bureaucratic hurdles accompanied implementation processes conducted locally involving familiar faces within respective areas possessing intimate knowledge about local cultures/needs thus ensuring effective delivery tailored precisely matching unique circumstances faced therein; -Provision reliable sources detailing available options concerning potential interventions applicable across diverse situations encountered regularly throughout daily existence; -Elimination age limitations restricting eligibility criteria particularly affecting younger generations requiring early intervention strategies before developmental milestones become irreversibly compromised permanently thereafter; -People having disability along side their families influencing kinds supports/services provided going forward moving ahead together collectively shaping future directions collaboratively.

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

Equipment and home/vehicle modifications, Education support

(technology/services/equipment), Employment support, Support for families and carers, Interpreters and other communication support

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

The NDIS is about changing the way services are delivered and therefore changing the way people with disabilities are able to live, work and play. The NDIS needs to leave people with disabilities BETTER OFF than they have been and it’s important that no one is left worse-off than they currently are. I support it because it is a genuine effort by this Australian (Labor) Gillard government to right the wrongs of neglect, disenfranchisement, poor service types and their availability and affortability; it’s about social justice, inclusion and rights based or entitlement based services and equipment. It’s important that the kids coming through the system get a better chance than they currently have. We live in a fabulous country that has an ethose of getting a fair deal, a fair go and equity for everyone, but people iwth disabilities have been the largest single marginalised group of Australians - always……we are more in number than supporting parents, more than unemployed men and women, more than CALD and First peoples………and every one of these demographic groups also have pwd in them - often in overrepresentative numbers. People who have ‘carer and family support’ roles also have very high rates of disability (42%??) and the NDIS will need to take pressure of them also….if the services and funding is ‘client/individual’ based people in these roles could be enabled to have regular family relationships rather than the ‘burden of care’, which very often has a negative impact on relationships with and across families and their networks.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Ms Jill Fowler