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: Thursday, 24 January 2013 10:10:23 AM

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.

There is NO RESPECT for disabled (nor seniors). We are treated with ignorance, rudeness and impotence. Our voices seen as just a whisper and something to be crushed and easily pushed aside.

Our Human Rights lesser mediation process is a ruse only to employ Law graduates on high salaries. Why spend taxpayer money on a department that cannot enforce its own DDAct ?

The Premises Standards of 2011 are dismal and exclude big time. They do not allow me entrance the local doctor, dentist, podiatrist, chemist, post office. Just wish I could receive these services online like I do to buy shoes, clothes and vitamins !

Employers are ‘dead against’ employing disabled/seniors. Probably will not change until (like Germany) there is a quota system at the Federal, State & Local government level. My local council of around 850 employees has only ONE disabled employee.

I had to pay for my own manual wheelchair and ramp into house or I’d have had to crawl up the 2 steps and around my house as couldn’t wait 1 year for Aids & Equipment.

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

• 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 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,
• Access to reliable information about support options,
• Removal of age barriers to services for children,
• People with disability/family will influence the types of support and services offered,
• Older parents and families will not worry what happens when they can no longer provide support

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

• 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

behaviour support and psychological services, interpreters and other communication support

i support the introduction of the ndis.

i believe it is our right to be accepted in society, treated as an equal and included physically & socially.

poor attitudes must change.

give us the means (equipment, respect, access to transport/buildings) to be equal and we will be more often than not.

i agree for my submission to be made public

regards,

advocate/seniors, disabled & carers heather milton