NDIA Accountability Project

Difficulty accessing art locations due to wheelchair use

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: Sunday, 23 December 2012 11:58:58 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.

It so top heavy, you have to apply and reapply time and time again. I like to give my wife a break so she can continue her art at locations I can never get to in my wheelchair. As now a self funded retiree I never seem to fit any mould. I loose funding when I’m told I don’t use it enough.

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

  • People with a disability can choose the types of support to use,
  • People with disability can choose who comes into their home,
  • Minimising the number of times people have to tell their story in order to get support

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

  • Therapy and allied health services,
  • Recreation and community access,
  • In-home care and domestic assistance

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

It may not benefit me as I have run the gauntlet of services since my accident over 35 years ago but it will benefit people with young families who are involved in accident not of their fault. Having to go to court and watching your body being dissected and evaluated into monetary values is a most inhumane experience. I see many people with genetic and other disabilities begging for help with equipment and support needs going unheeded living a miserable life depriving the community of an active participant and taxpayer instead of a dependent on welfare with its related costs. Its not our fault that our lives were altered by circumstances over which we had no control forcing us to become a third class citizen.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Mr Alan Aldrich