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 8:23:47 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.

So far I have been able to recover from my numerous lapses from multiple sclerosis. This has included 10 hospitalisations and severe debilitations including a brief time spent wheelchair bound. This gave me the ultimate education in seeing the way the disability system worked. I found the cost of just attending the very rehab I so desperately needed to learn to walk and talk properly soon dwindled to nothing and I was in no position to afford it myself. My family has borne the costs of rehab, housing, modifications, medicine not covered by p.b.s and they are far from wealthy.I couldn’t as I had lost my business with the onset of my disease. I also (and don’t think I didn’t try,20 funding bodies and this is all while I am desperately ill,) couldn’t access funding from anywhere to cover the cost of air conditioning which without my disease progression and symptoms are exacerbated. My sisters and parents all put money together to pay my private rent for 2 years when I moved inte rstate for my health,and the housing system did not cover for such and requires for you to be a resident in that particular state before you can apply for any form of housing . I find this an affront and insulting as disabled people have enough hurdles to jump as it is with their health alone, and if this small independent safety mechanism is not even federal then who can we turn to for help? My new husband has chosen to become my full time carer at present as I require constant assistance whilst it the weather is hot. He is now getting flack from his employer and may lose his job.It has made me,up until my onset of my disease a self reliant,successful business owner, contributing tax paying member of society, disillusioned (and believe me, I am a very positive person). Please help us, we must improve something in this broken system. Thank you for taking the time to listen.

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,
• People with a disability can plan their lives and pursue their goals and dreams

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.

The system is failing the very people who need it and I see the people providing the care severely jaded and constantly complaining that their hands are tied. I feel a uniform and overhauled system is necessary and is way overdue in our apparently intelligent enlightened society of Australia. We have an opportunity here to show humanity we have indeed achieved something monumental.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

mrs shani goldsbro