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: Saturday, 22 December 2012 12:29:29 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.

Everything connected with my beautiful but severely disabled granddaughter is so expensive. They are a normal one income family, and my daughter receives the Carer’s allowance. My granddaughter does have a Health Care Card, but that doesn’t cover all the equipment she needs and the nappies etc she will always need. The present system doesn’t help her / my family, so we are praying the NDIS scheme will take off for her and all these special people

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

• Ensure support and equipment is available when needed,
• Minimising the number of times people have to tell their story in order to get support,
• Access to reliable information about support options

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

• Therapy and allied health services,
• Equipment and home/vehicle modifications,
• Support for families and carers

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

I support the NDIS because it would bring some certainty into the lives of all those affected by the disablement of a family member or friend .. family members and carers. For my daughter who also has an 11 year old child with ADHD, and a younger child who is “normal”(?) there could be some normality in the activities of the whole family. Her other children miss out on so much because their whole life has to revolve around their sister and her special needs. eg the 11 year old declined to attend the final disco for the year at his school, because he knew his sister would be having an activity at her SDS the same time. This was his decision before he even mentioned it at home, because he knew the priority must be his sister! This is so hard for the siblings, as well as the parents and other family members who care for them. They need the support of an NDIS to give them some stability and measure of normality in their personal and family lives. Please make sure that the promises of the Government are able to be fulfilled in the near furure.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards, Mrs Evelyn Wakeling