From: To: Community Affairs, Committee (SEN); Subject: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012 Date: Thursday, 17 January 2013 11:34:07 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.
Our son has autism and is non-verbal and there is little or no funding for sufficient speech/occupational therapy. We are getting therapy in the Philippines because the Australian system let us down. Respite was not available after many months of dealing with many different respite suppliers. We live in a country town and even if the services were funded, there are not enough therapists or respite services close by. We are unable to move to a city because our relatives and friends are all here. Their support is critical to our survival.
The main features of the NDIS that will make a difference to the community are:
Better access to mainstream support and services, The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person, 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:
Therapy and allied health services, Education support (technology/services/equipment), Flexible in-home/outside home respite
I support the introduction of the NDIS.
the current system has failed
I agree for my submission to be made public