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, 25 January 2013 10:03:56 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.

employment rights and support in the work place have seen wrongful dismissal and consequent problems in our family. A disabled person can be seen to be a health and safety risk in the work place, so enabling dismissal due to the work place being required to provide a safe work place. The level of disability in our case is mild, the the major sympton [sic] being a risk of falling, for a 50 year old previously employed as a radiographer. The employer used this risk of a fall to dismiss due to the chance of a fall injuring the employee, other employeees [sic] or business clients, despite no history of such a fall. The NDIS needs to provide assistance to ensure that “unsafe” workers can remain in their workplace and continue to be gainfully employed.

Our needs at home also fall outside of current guidleines- we need to rebuild a bathroom to remove shower over bath etc, but have no access to funding as our need it to build a new bathroom, not renovate en existing one. The availability of a contribution to meet the extra costs to build an accessible bathroom versus an ordinary bathroom would be a great assistance

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

Ensure support and equipment is available when needed, More employment of people with disability and less reliance on social welfare, The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

Equipment and home/vehicle modifications, Education support (technology/services/equipment), Employment support

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

All in our society should be able to lead a life of their choosing without the limitations of a disbaility however aquired. The support levels for those who acquire a disbaility due to road trauma in Victoria are what should be avilable [sic] for all, at all levels of disbility [sic]. The NDIS must develop to provide so that the disabled are able to return to, or gain a life experience as close as possible to their needs

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Mr GEOFFREY PFITZNER