From: To: Community Affairs, Committee (SEN); Subject: Spam: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012 Date: Thursday, 17 January 2013 10:47:43 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.
My husband and I have THREE children at various points on the autism spectrum. They are not treated as three individuals, but as one family. Therefore we cannot get the help we need for all of them.
Our middle child, the most severely autistic, has been living in respite for four years because we could no longer maintain a safe environment for him or our family. There are no other accommodation options open for him because he is under 18.
The main features of the NDIS that will make a difference to the community are:
Minimising the number of times people have to tell their story in order to get support, 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:
Education support (technology/services/equipment), Employment support, Accommodation options
I support the introduction of the NDIS.
People who are not yet disabled generally are able to live fulfilling lives and pay for their own services such as housing of their choice (either rental or purchased). Even things like clothing and food supplies are services which are available to everyone at a cost. Rubbish disposal, transport (either public or private) are all services which non-disabled people pay for.
They are not made to feel guilty for needing these services.
People who are disabled generally do not earn sufficient income to pay for these services themselves, never mind the extra services they need such as attendant care.
They ARE made to feel guilty for asking for help to pay for these services.
I would like to see the NDIS raise the living standards of people with disabilities to the point where they can afford what they need to live fulfilling lives, in whatever form that takes.
I agree for my submission to be made public