Many of us have read with concern the changes to the NDIS and what it might mean for those with a disability.
The reason for the NDIS has never changed: to provide society’s response and help to those who are the most vulnerable in the community.
Where you are living with a disability, it fundamentally changes you, how you live and your environment.
There are often institutional and environmental barriers to you doing what those without a disability take for granted.
And sadly, the NDIS has been abused by the very people, as providers and carers, who those with a disability, rely upon to live their lives as best they can.
Yet, despite the invaluable support the NDIS provides and those who abuse it, where and how should it be reformed?
Let’s consider some important issues.
- Cuts to Participants: Is it fair to simply cut support, often provided over many years, and in response to criticism say, its up to the family or state governments, when neither have the funds or resources to provide any services (and NSW has been honest to say that is exactly its position)?
- Price Freezes: should professional services and their costs be frozen to force others to wear increasing costs, while the participant suffers through less and less care?
- Service Providers: while much media attention has been on abuse of the system by providers and a “diagnosis” rather than a “functional” approach to applications, where has been any robust, diligent regulation of providers in the past?
- Foundation Supports: where participants are removed from the NDIS, passed over to state-managed foundational supports, who and how is this to be funded and what does it mean for those in the middle: the participant with increased anxiety and worry?
It appears that, as is so often the case, people with a disability, are caught in the middle, often ignored or not respected as accountants manipulate figures to satisfy governments who target them, yet spend billions on defence when no nation, as far as I understand world affairs, is going to invade Australia.
Would it not have been fairer and more respectful to talk to and engage with the impacted participants? While I have no doubt the government did talk to those it reached out to, it appears many were not spoken to: hence the alarm in the disability care community. I think the more we can advocate for those who feel excluded, the better able we all can, as a society, engage with and understand those who are vulnerable in the community.