something that I needed to do. The then Minister for Disability in the ACT, the Hon Chris Bourke, however did support my “out of time” application for consideration and I attach his letters to me which demonstrate that he also considered the transition process to have been flawed and that “the rigidity of the Act was not enabling the NDIS to operate consistently with the intended principles.” (Attachment B) “early intervention support is likely to benefit the person by reducing the person’s future needs for supports in relation to disability.”(p14) “Preventing the deterioration of such functional capacity.”(p14) Whilst I already have a significant mobility disability there is ample evidence to support the view that with specialized allied health professional therapy and the use of various mobility devices such as the WalkAide, the Musmate and the Hip Flexion Assist Device designed to assist and improve walking, that it is possible to prevent or significantly slow the rate of further deterioration of mobility and even to improve it. Funding support for the relevant specialized therapy (neurological physiotherapy) and devices is available under the NDIS. It is not available in aged care packages. The latter focus their support on devices for people who are no longer ambulatory. It should also be noted that many younger people with MS are currently being found ineligible for the NDIS on the grounds that they do no exhibit a sufficient degree of “permanent and ongoing ”disability. Given that MS is a progressive, degenerative disease this attitude makes a nonsense of the purported adherence to “early intervention.” “Poorly defined boundaries between the NDIS and mainstream services can raise the risk of gaps in services…and cost shifting (between agencies or governments.)”. (p15) Indeed! This is exactly what is happening and individuals with disability are bearing the cost. Is the way the NDIS refers people who do not qualify for support under the scheme back to mainstream services effective? (p17) “State and Territory Governments provide mainstream services and offer support to those unable to access the NDIS”. (p28) Equivalent support to that available under the NDIS for people with a disability who have been excluded from the NDIS is simply not available under state and territory schemes. The ACT Government has essentially closed down its Disability Agency. Attachment A My Experience with the transition to the NDIS in the ACT
something that I needed to do. The then Minister for Disability in the ACT, the Hon Chris Bourke, however did support my “out of time” application for consideration and I attach his letters to me which demonstrate that he also considered the transition process to have been flawed and that “the rigidity of the Act was not enabling the NDIS to operate consistently with the intended principles.” (Attachment B) “early intervention support is likely to benefit the person by reducing the person’s future needs for supports in relation to disability.”(p14) “Preventing the deterioration of such functional capacity.”(p14) Whilst I already have a significant mobility disability there is ample evidence to support the view that with specialized allied health professional therapy and the use of various mobility devices such as the WalkAide, the Musmate and the Hip Flexion Assist Device designed to assist and improve walking, that it is possible to prevent or significantly slow the rate of further deterioration of mobility and even to improve it. Funding support for the relevant specialized therapy (neurological physiotherapy) and devices is available under the NDIS. It is not available in aged care packages. The latter focus their support on devices for people who are no longer ambulatory. It should also be noted that many younger people with MS are currently being found ineligible for the NDIS on the grounds that they do no exhibit a sufficient degree of “permanent and ongoing ”disability. Given that MS is a progressive, degenerative disease this attitude makes a nonsense of the purported adherence to “early intervention.” “Poorly defined boundaries between the NDIS and mainstream services can raise the risk of gaps in services…and cost shifting (between agencies or governments.)”. (p15) Indeed! This is exactly what is happening and individuals with disability are bearing the cost. Is the way the NDIS refers people who do not qualify for support under the scheme back to mainstream services effective? (p17) “State and Territory Governments provide mainstream services and offer support to those unable to access the NDIS”. (p28) Equivalent support to that available under the NDIS for people with a disability who have been excluded from the NDIS is simply not available under state and territory schemes. The ACT Government has essentially closed down its Disability Agency. Attachment A My Experience with the transition to the NDIS in the ACT