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: Tuesday, 22 January 2013 8:25:16 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.

I am not writing about ‘why’ as I am not a direct consumer. I am providing feedback as a disability worker with knowledge that people experience disability differently which in part is dependent on quality of family community and funded supports. People with disability have the same problems in living as people without disability but have many more barriers to access a quality of life across all spectrums of living eg health education housing. People with disability are often more vulnerable to exploitation financially and victims/survivors of sexualy abuse.

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

• More opportunities to participate in the community,
• 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

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

• Equipment and home/vehicle modifications,
• Flexible in-home/outside home respite,
• Positive behaviour support and psychological services

I support the introduction of the NDIS. Because I hope it is like a medicare system that is a universal system and client/person centred based on need and beyond. People have rights to access care/support for personal care houshold support along with access to community education training and recreational interests.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Ms Margaret Williams