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, 21 December 2012 10:27:52 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.

My daughter has a brain injury that requires frequent and intensive therapy to improve her quality of life and help her gain independence. She fails to qualify for federal government initiatives due to her age and the fact that Cerebral Palsy is not a life threatening condition. She failed to qualify for a grant for physiotherapy and speech therapy because these are services already offered by the ACT, and even though the regularity and number of such appointments is nowhere near what is really required the provision of these services by TherapyACT amounts to sheer tokenism.

Each year for the past 7 years I have spent in excess of $25,000 per year giving her the therapy she needs. She now walks and talks no thanks to Centrelink who have ceased our carer’s allowance everytime she has left the country for 13 weeks or more. If I can’t get her independent by the time I retire I am going to have to hand her over to the state who will pay in excess of $75,000 per year for her supported accomodation along with what ever the federal governments’ disability pension is.

The thought of leaving my child open to abuse from people responsible for her care and well being quite frankly disturbs ma, but the option having her remaining at home is quickly diminishing given that she is becoming increasingly violent towards herself and other people trying to help her.

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

• Better access to education and work opportunities,
• Increased ability to coordinate services to suit the “whole” person/family,
• People with disability/family will influence the types of support and services offered

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

• Therapy and allied health services,
• Employment support,
• Positive behaviour support and psychological services

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

I support the NDIS because: -I think every Australian should have a fair go. -I think every Australian should be ENTITLED to receive the level of care they need. -I think every Australian should be given the opportunity to have a quality of life on par with the community at large. -I expect governments at all levels to address the unmet need issues for people with disabilities. -Futhermore I don’t believe the NDIS should be means tested on anyone other than the individual applicant.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Mr Sean McCandless