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 9:47:34 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.

My parents have had to invest a massive amount of time since my youngest brother was born, far beyond what the other four kids needed. Despite their education and commitment, the results have been mixed, largely due to the ad hoc and patchy nature of disability support networks and services. My family has learned through trial and error, despite our best efforts and intentions, in everything from the education of my little brother, to the management of his health, to helping him grow as a person, through to enabling him to have the means to develop independence into adulthood.

There is a lack of community, government and social awareness of these issues that means there are no real standards with respect to the availability of quality information or access to appropriate services. The journey of life for some of society’s most vulnerable members, who need the most guidance and assistance, is sadly and ironically much more complex than the well-trodden path available to the average member of society.

I can only imagine how bad it must be for those disabled members of our community who didn’t have the loving and dedicated parents my brother did.

Main features of the NDIS that will make a difference to the community:

• Better access to mainstream support and services
• Access to reliable information about support options
• Older parents and families will not worry what happens when they can no longer provide support

Most important services for the NDIS to provide:

• Education support (technology/services/equipment)
• Employment support
• Support for families and carers

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

I support NDIS because when the rest of his family passes, I hope my little brother will have the support he will need to ensure he is happy, healthy and is in control of his life like any other man. I support NDIS because I hope it will mean the families of babies yet to be born with disabilities won’t have to go through what my parents did in just trying to work out how to get the best for my little brother. I support NDIS because I hope it will mean those babies yet to be born with disabilities get every opportunity to grow into happy and healthy adults that have a sense of belonging and contributing to a broader community. I support NDIS because I hope it will bring disability out of the shadows of society.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards, Mr Alex Brak