NDIA Accountability Project

Lack of support for disabled adults leaving school

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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 10:30:07 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.

Simply, there is a massive shortfall in funding for post school funding and all other disability sectors, especially as the disabled person becomes an adult. It is like being blind…you simply have to feel your way through as a carer and hope that you get lucky. The post school funding system is highly inequitable. Families should not have to go through a quarter of the trauma they go through when their disabled child leaves school. Transport for disabled people is a massive concern. Parents can not always transport their young person to their service once they finish school (which provides carers on buses or taxis for FREE!!!) Services should not just be offering service that match school terms and holidays…they should all be full time long day care services. The stressors become so much more intense when the young disabled person leaves school…it is a matter of good luck, you are going to need it!!! Like all parents of a disabled young person, we lie awake many nights wondering what will happen to our beautiful child when we are no longer able to look after them. This is an absolute reality. Something MUST be put in place for this inevitable situation. I hear of families relinquishing care of their family member, simply because there is no support and no one to turn to when it just become too much. Where is the support system??? FUNDING…INSURANCE FOR FULL LIFE CARE…FUNDED TRANSPORT TO ALL SERVICES…AND REALISTIC, EQUITABLE FUNDING FOR ALL DISABLED PEOPLE AND THEIR CARERS/FAMILIES. The disability system is a failure as it is today and it must be given a priority for resurrection by all levels of Australian government. All states should be equal in what they offer. Queensland is so lacking and so far behind in their funding and levels of support…it’s devastating.

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

  • Increased ability to coordinate services to suit the “whole” person/family,
  • People with disability/family will influence the types of support and services offered,
  • Older parents and families will not worry what happens when they can no longer provide support

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

  • Support for families and carers,
  • Accommodation options,
  • Flexible in-home/outside home respite

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

The NDIS would be a support system that would be wholistic. It would ensure that disabled people and their carers have a system that caters for the life and life needs of the disabled person. It would assist in making funding more equitable and would highlight the real needs of the disabled and their carers in Australian communities.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,