NDIA Accountability Project

Support for families of young adults with intellectual disability

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: Wednesday, 23 January 2013 2:45:47 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.

Parents of a young adult with an intellectual disability should have the opportunity, with government support and finance, to plan long term with their child for a better life as part of the community.

More funds for independent living for young adults for life-time support as their parents age.

The disability system does not work when older parents either die or become disabled. A safe home environment is essential, similar to the experience with their own loving parents

This aspect of the present disability system is only paid ’lip service’and is the greatest concern for all parents.

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

  • Better access to education and work opportunities,
  • More rights for people with a disability,
  • People with disability/family will influence the types of support and services offered

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

  • Support for families and carers,
  • Accommodation options,
  • Crisis and emergency support

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

It was difficult to select 3 of the features and support types - they were all important and should be part of the policy being defined. I volunteered for many years and worked with young adults with an intellectual disability. I have life-long friends with young adults that are intellectually challenged and I share their deep concern regarding financial provisions made for their children, especially when as loving parents they can no longer provide support or have ‘passed on’. Respite facilities are a temporary condition. Enduring ‘state of the art’ supervised accommodation, which invites all to be part of the community, is essential.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards, Mrs Kathleen Hassell