NDIA Accountability Project

Lack of respite led to relinquishing full-time care of son

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: Wednesday, 2 January 2013 3:10:47 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.

The current services themselves are good but hard to find and no where near enough of them. Lack of out of home respite led my family to relinquish full time care of our son. This was extremely traumatic both for our son and family.We were all very heartbroken, it was soul destroying to see how distressed our son was at not being able to live with us anymore. My husband and a sibling to our son with the disability both suffer depression which increases the cost to the community, not to mention the cost of accommodating our son full time. If we’d had enough support this would probably never have happened.It’s criminal the way our country treats children with a disability and their families by the gross lack of services.

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

  • The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person,
  • 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:

  • Accommodation options,
  • Flexible in-home/outside home respite,
  • Case management, planning and coordination

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

So that my son can get the services and support he needs, when he needs it. Out of home respite and behaviour support to name some. So that his future is secure. So we can be assured he has somewhere appropriate to live when he turns 18. To prevent others families from going through the tragedy of having to relinquish their child due to inadequate support. My words may be few but that belies the enormous impact lack of services has had on our family.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards, Mrs Pam Rogers