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: Thursday, 3 January 2013 5:07:00 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.

I live with Multiple disabilities. As a student i recieve support to ensure i am integrated into campus life, however in terms of equipment needed for me to intergrate (in my case hearing aids) and support outside of university very little is available to me. I feel this is due to several factors.

Being a multi disability sufferer, many organisations do not know how to cater to all of my needs and therefore do not cater to any of them. I find that when an organisation finds out i have autism, medical conditions and severe hearing loss they do not know what to do with me.

I also encounter issues in terms of accessing funding to participate in assistive employment solutions to assist me to work part time whilst studying. I found that being a student instantly excluded me from accessing disability employment services (for example Nova employment). I found this appalling, even a student needs a job to help support them whilst studying but support is not available to students with disabilities. i eventually found a supportive part time workplace but it took 6 months (and my financial situation becoming drastic) before i was able to be involved in something which non disabled person take for granted.

Finally i find that those with a higher level hearing loss suffer financially. This is due to the extremely high cost of hearing aids (for anything more than basic this can be more than $1500 per hearing aid) very low level of subsidy available through provate health care (the best i have seen is getting a total of $800 back on the higest level extras cover spread over 5 years) and lack of affordable options for those outside the government subsidised age (under 25 or over 65). Hearing aids, when cared for, can last up to 5-7 years but often need to be upgraded before this time to keep up with tecnological advances which improve the hearing outcomes for hard of hearing people.

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

Ensure support and equipment is available when needed, The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person, Increased ability to coordinate services to suit the “whole” person/family

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

Equipment and home/vehicle modifications, Employment support, Interpreters and other communication support

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

i believe a person with a disability is just that, a person with a difference or alternative way of participating in everyday activities. The NDIS will allow access

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for every person to equipment, theraphy, and education/workplace support to allow them to intergrate and participate in everyday life

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Miss Emma Gallagher