The NDIS is not optional!

The federal government and Tony Abbot along with all Australians need to understand that the  National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is not an optional extra for Australia. The NDIS is a revolution this nation needs to begin to address the Human Rights of people living with disabilities and their families.

The scheme in its current format only begins to address some of the Human Rights and years of neglect, people with disabilities and their families have experience. Assistance to have our daily needs meet such as toileting, showering, feeding, transport and equipment needs are not 'optional extras', when they can be afforded. 

Every  human being needs water, food, shelter and love to survive.  The introduction of the NDIS only begins to address these very basic human needs for people with disabilities.  Without support people with disabilities can not get out of bed, go to the toilet or eat.  Some in our community, speak about the scheme as if luxuries were being provided to people with disabilities. Needing someone to change your incontinent aid is not a luxury.

Excuse me for becoming blunt about the daily living needs of those of us have disabilities, but until the community and all members of government fully understands the urgent need to address the Human Rights violations occurring in one of the wealthiest nations in the world, then we have a problem. The UN knows it, the International Community knows it,  The government knows it, and its time the Australian population knows it too.

If I posted a picture of a women in a nursing home bed, who hadn't been changed in 24 hours and was lying in human waste there would be outraged. Outrage for all the wrong reasons. Outrage that I exposed this lady to the public eye, not out rage that it was occurring! 

When we politely discuss the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, we tend to hold up the champions and it ideals. While the ideals of the scheme are a huge leap forward in securing the some of the Human Rights of people with disabilities, it does nothing to address vicolance against women with disabilities living in nursing homes, fails to empower women with intellectual disabilities to access the justice system, fails to prevent the imprisonment of men with intellectual disabilities unfit to stand trail; fails to protect unborn children with disabilities from termination and continues to fail to address the needs of people with disabilities living in nursing homes under the age of thirty because the cost of the care is too high.

As we debate what the scheme should cost, what it was expected to cost, how to fund the scheme for who and to what degree, we miss the injustices occurring! Like it or not even if the NDIS is fully implemented as designed by the productivity commission only some of these human rights issues are address. 

When I hear we might not be able to be afford, so these are trails the can be stopped. . . I cringe because people have failed to understand, the human rights message that is the Everybody Counts Campaign.

We here much about the costs and the increasing pressure the blow out costs with place on the budgets around the country. We forget that the National Disability Insurance Scheme will only partially be funded  by the increase to our medicare levy and the viability of the NDIS is also dependent on our state leaders. So much about the scheme, its role in improving human rights and funding arrangements is misunderstood. 

For many in our community it s simple change in funding arrangements, but talk to those who are already benefiting from what we were told was a roll out . . . and we realise the scheme dose much more than fund the basic support needs of people living with disabilities. The NDIS hands them the keys to enjoy ever aspect of life as any other member of the Australian society.  It acknowledges  people with disabilities have the same rights and that includes sharing a house and a bed in that house as a couple, whether they a married, defatos or a same sex couple.  Same country then we have the same rights!

It sounds a bit different when we say, Hang on we're married, we want to share the same bed . . . we need a modified bed to do that. Why should the government on fund beds designed for single people living with a disability or only if the were married.  If we're going to call it equality make us equal. If its only tokenism wrapped up as equality, we have a problem  because with what is a luxury and what is not.  

The equality that the National Disability Insurance Scheme can bring and continue to build on.  The opportunities for early intervention, access to better therapies, communication devices, mobility aids, transport. education and employment opportunities are just a beginning on how the scheme will improve the quality of life for Australians living with disability, their families and the community as a whole.   Mr Abbot the NDIS is not optional, so stopping talking like it is!

Australia again we must united until Every Australian Counts!  

Productivity at war with compassion

Productivity is define as the state or quality of being productive and in terms of the Australian Economy that translate in to the ability to work.  This creates a number of social and economic issues as we struggle with things like access for all Australians, social inclusion, unemployment and underemployment. While it is great to see the Australian Liberal Government focus on the economy,  economic stability and job creation it needs  to make sure it doesn’t drop the ball on its social obligation to maintain human dignity and human  rights.

We have already seen the UN Commission of equal human rights question the Federal Governments priority to ensure an equitable future for all Australian.  However since being elected Tony Abott has made is feelings towards those who life circumstance  has not be fair.  The Gina Rinharts of this great economy of ours would have you believe anyone can rise up above the soco-economic environment in which they find themselves and create a multi-million dollar empire ‘if they weren’t afraid of hard work.

Now I do not dispute that Gina Rinhart is one of the most hard working people in Australia any one that manages an empire as large as hers works in creditably hard and long hours what I have difficulty in swallowing is a belief that everyone on welfare is lazy and Australians can is 2013 walk in to any job they chose. The fact that Gina Rinhart is a the top of the business world should mean as a woman she has first hand faced so type of discrimination.

If not she only needs to talk to our current Prime Minister to experience the inner workings of a man’s mind and how women are devalued it the corporate world. Even having experienced discrimination as a woman, Gina Rinhart is still speaking from a position of privilege, she wasn’t born into a working class.  She was raise in a position of privilege which gives her access to privileges’ such private education, tertiary education and I am sure there are making things about the business world she learnt by observing her father.

Social conditioning and the effect it can have on individuals is too often dismissed but the Tony Abbrot’s and the Gina Rinhart’s of this society.  Despite what I think we’d all like to believe, not everyone can become a millionaire. If you believe that try telling that to a parent with a child with Down Syndrome who wants to access any Grammar School in Australia for her 5 year old daughter.

Or a young 17 year-old girl with cerebral palsy who has to not only achieve the academic results to gain entry into university, but prove she can physical cope with the strains of academic life while living away from home.  Oh yeah add into the mix the she’s the first generation of a working class family to gain a tertiary education.

The trouble is when we’re making statements about changes government policies is the general were making board and sweeping statements about a minority group and while that statement may be true for the ‘norm’ of the population, very few people might belong to that norm, especially when we’re talking about very small minority groups, like refugees.

The liberal government has stragtically played into the hands of the general population fears of terriots and feelings of righteousness and false gaining advantage with its turning back the boats policies.  If I had witiness the murder of my entire family and fled across the border in fear for my own life,  I can assure you I didn’t wait for me passport and visa to arrive in the mail.      

Any broad sweep ting statement about an soci-economic group will feed into things like misconceptions people have about that percentage of the population whether or not the government is basing its statements on statistical data or not.  Such as the statement claimed to be made by the Prime Minister in the Australian today, one in twenty working aged people in Australia receive a welfare payment.  The wording of the articles who have you believe these productive people are receiving entitlements when other taxpayers their age have to work.

The author as does the Prime Minister assumes the majority of this particular population ‘doesn’t want to work’ and productivity or the ability to be productive means you are employable.   I am by nature a very productive person and high achiever, but what boss is going to employ someone with uncontrollable seizures that will need to off even other week.  I can’t guardutee all my seizures will occur on my days off even if I only working 20 hours a week.

That my friends is the trouble when we make statements about norms even when support by statistics.  This government either governs with a social agenda or stimulates economic growth. I think the government is pretty clear when it make statements like the NDIS being ‘a cause’ rather than addressing a human rights issue (A ‘cause’ they gave bipartisan support to while in opposition – because it was the decent thing for a country like Australia to do!”) it’s very clear how it views their  social responsibilities .

Reform solely based on productivity and economic stability or growth puts at risk many socially disadvantage Australians, who despite hard work and remaining productive, through life hard knocks rather than poor choices need a helping hand.  Unfortunately it looking like the federal government has little room in its budget for heart and compassion even when basic human rights are at risk.

Dreaming of Possibilities

Deb's Rave!

The hopes and dreams that the National Disability Insurance Scheme will bring for people living with disabilities and those who provide unpaid care, seems to balance on a uneven seesaw. What I am beginning to see emerge is that different agreements that have between different states and territories, and the Federal Government, sees a different approach to disability care, being adopted around the country.  A reality I find disheartening, when the principle underlying the NDIS campaign was a universal approach to supporting people living with disability and greater access to choice regardless of whether people live in Hobart Tassimia or Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.  

So the anticipated mistrust of governments ability to deliver a disability support system that people living with disability and their families, unpaid careers and those who seek to support them on a daily basis were well-grounded. 

What was known from the outset, under the recommendation of the productivity report, was there was to be a nation wide shake-up to the eligibility criteria . With the promised the more people with disabilities and their primary careers would be eligible for support and the state-by-state regulations on supported career and accommodation would cease with individuals and families to be offered greater choice and flexibility in the way the receive that support.  That was the very essences of the National Disability Insurance Scheme campaign, a principle that disability advocates will not be negotiating.

The scheme must deliver a universal approach to supporting those living with disabilities and those who career for them.  In the push towards early intervention, fostering independence, the needs of families and those who care for them seems forgotten.  Loss in the former labor governments push towards priorities such as employment.    

While I cheer on reform that is founded on social inclusion, real employment opportunities and equality, these much not be at the expense of providing esscentual respite care and providing support to the family unit the live with  24 hours needs of a love one.  Everyone has a breaking point and everyone needs a brake and end to residential respite does not provide that break.

No one wants separation in any form but the reality is that unpaid career like every other Australian, has a right to annual leave.  The absence of being paid does not remove need.  We can debate all we like about what people with liabilities need, what the like, how to define choice, how do we create choice, how do people with disabilities make informed choices after a lifetime with out choosing basic things like the color of their toothbrush, what they want for lunch and what the will wear on any given day.  

As we face the road to a fully operational National Disability Insurance Scheme that delivers full equality to people living with disability and their significant others the challenges to ensure everyone has the same degree of choice regardless of type of disability, lifestyle and postcode are enormous!

The principles of the National Disability Insurance Scheme are not as secured as various governments have assured us.  We as the voice of those who can not speak must not be silence or rest. The right to choice must be secured for every Australia. Every Australian has the humane right to have their rights meet. 

Human Rights means equality

Access For All

"The ideal of equal opportunity holds no water unless it truly 

includes all people, including people with disabilities."

K. Martinez

World Blog Action Day is now only five days away.

Those who follow my blog will know the theme this year is 

is Human Rights 

As a advocate for people living with disability in Australia, I can tell you first hand that the rights of people with disability in Australia are often abuse. The likely hood of abuse increase for those living in residential facilities and group homes. Currently there are over 6,000 people with disability under the age of 40 in nursing homes. These facilitates and the programs are designed for those in their late 70's, 80's and 90's.

Younger people under 40 rarely have the opportunity to access the community and there only interaction is with people twice their age.  The incidence of likely emotional, finical, physical and sexual abuse increases if you are female and further escalate in you are of indigenous or Torrist  Straight decent.  , 

It is a shock to head that there is such a high incidence of people living within Australia who are denied so much access to basic humane rights and recently the Australian Government received a negative report card from the UN Commission on Human Rights.  Many human rights areas are not covered specifically for people living with disabilities under Australian Legislation. 

Please join me to learn more on October 16, 2013.  

Debbie    

What does the introduction of the NDIS mean for you?

 Changing roles under the NDIS

The introduction of the National Disability Insurance  Scheme (NDIS) affects us all. Not just through an increase in the Medicare Levy. The scheme reminds each of us we are only one serious accident away from a permanent disability and need for assistance ourselves.

Imagine if you had a horse riding accident tomorrow and your spinal cord is broken at the bottom of your neck. The good news is you survive and are eligible for assistance under the NDIS, this can be organised while you spend up to the next 12 months in a rehabilitation hospital, as one of the priorities of the funding is early intervention program to get you 'back into life again'.

The bad news is you will never be able to move anything below your lower neck again and you will need to access 24 hour care for the rest of your life. When you go to bed at night someone will need to come in and turn you every few hours so you don't get a pressure sore. You are now dependent on somebody else for everything. You can't even starch you nose. 

More bad news you have a physical disability. You intellectual process, thoughts and feelings are all as there were before.  You are lucky! You can still speak and voice your thoughts and feelings and soon every therapist, doctor and nurse is going to know about it.

Each person that walks or wheels into your room for the next 12 months is going to have the opinions on, 'how you can put your life back together'. You are forced to listen and proceed with your daily therapy. While you are feeling unheard you are also grieving for you loss of mobility and the life you once knew.

It gets worst you are a professional support worker, you know how to help people with disabilities, you know what you want and you can still communicate this clearly, but your wishes are often dismissed. Instead you receive constant reminders you are the patient. . .

Relax . . . this is not your current reality and I hope no one reading this ever experience this reality. Because the funding for NDIS is so individualized the best way to providing training and understanding of how this new system works is to provide examples.  

The priorities for funding under the NDIS are very different to what is currently here in Queensland. Under the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the funding priorities are early intervention, access to therapies, medical aids, mobility aids and technologies; education; employment; accessing public transport and buildings, meaningful community participation, access to the arts and sporting participation.

Despite popular misconception, the introduction of the NDIS is not a change in funding roles between the state and federal governments. Under the NDIS funding is assigned to and individual or family based on the goals and lifestyle choices. Rather than a diagnoses made by a doctor at birth or time of injury.  For the first time a person’s funding package will look at all their needs and how best to enable them to achieve their own lifestyle goals. 

This is not merely a changing of the guard or a change in who is paying the bills. The choices clients and their families will make about their own lives.  A change which will be directly felt by support workers who work one-on-one with clients. For the first time clients and/or their families will be able to chose the service or services they want to access for their support needs.  

These revolutionary changes will be based on the clients lifestyle choices (ie to life independently in their own home near the beach); and their goals and aspiration (eg to play basketball in the Australian Special Olympics team).  Support to attend training and travel to tournaments with be a large feature in this person support package. My recommendation is the person who supports this person will need to be both fit and a early rises.

This fundamental shift to funding being assigned based on individual lifestyle and goals, will see a big shake up in how and when clients are supported and the organisation that is most suitable to support them. 

While support has always been based on a goal, (such as to enable the client to leave the house), all their goals and how they will achieve them is now determined by them and their families or careers. This is their lives, their dreams, their goals and their choices! The NDIS is ALL ABOUT CHOICE.

MY LIFE! MY CHOICE!

SELF-DIRECTED FUNDING  

Regardless our how you view you're client’s ability to make choices, around their lifestyles. As a support worker it is your job to assist your client to achieve their goals. If their goal is to organised a surprise party for their dad's 80th Birthday, but you doubt their ability to achieve and afford the party, as a professional support worker your role is only to enable the client to achieve throwing a successful party.  Whether they then occur a debt, under the rules of the NDIS is their choice and their responsibility. 

Until now in Queensland people with disabilities and their families have had little choice on who will support them, when they will be supported and what they will be support to do.

Currently, the Department of Communities undertakes an assessment and decides the types of support you need e.g. community support, personal care, in-house, respite care and how many hours that will before. They then place you with a service that will provide that support. 

Despite popular beliefs held by support workers a number of factors which currently determine the way you support clients. This includes their diagnoses, the type of disability (e.g. physical disability); whether the disability is progressive; even their post code.  The chances are whether you are on a in-house support shift or a community access shift has not been determined by your boss, but the Departments of Communities. 

It always amuses me when my staff complain they weren't told what we were we're doing on a particular day. As they are always informed Debbie will tell you what she needs when you arrive at her place. The fact that my support plan clearly states my support will be center around my needs at the particular time of the shift (I might wake up vomiting and that will change what I had planned for the day.) I am a real person and real people get sick).  The change with the introduction of the NDIS is that clients no longer need to negotiate with the scope of what 'my needs at the time of the shift' means. 

Self-directed funding means the client choose who will support them, which what activities the will be supported and when they will receive their support. Without a support service being in control of a client's funding, the division of funds will be directed by the client or their guardian. So if a client wishes to be supported at a time when higher penalty rates are paying and receive less hours of support, under the NDIS that is their choice.  

The major priority for funding under the new NDIS is to ensure the human rights of all Australians with a disability and their families are upheld. Just as you have the right to choose things like where you send your children to school and what type of work you do. People living with disability and their families have the same basic rights regardless of the intellectual ability.

Under NDIS even the Adult Guardian Board will be held more accountable to ensure its client have access to choice and the way they are cared for. The NDIS is very much about empower people with disabilities to exercise their right of choice.

It may interest you to know current there are 30 articles on the Human Rights For People with Disabilities. Currently there are hearings occurring in Geneva around Australia's record in upholding the rights of people living with disabilities. As recently as September the Australian Government was using the introduction of the NDIS as its defence and omission that until now it has been in violation of the convention and these articles. The stakes for getting the implementation of the NDIS spot on are very high.

The changes we are about experiences are fundamental and will be felt far beyond the disability sector. These are changes that demand dignity and respect of all people living with disabilities and a goal of social inclusion.  Therefore will be felt:-

• The Public Health System 
• The Public Trust
• Private Therapist
• Education System
• Public and Private Schools
• Transport System
• Equipment Providers
• Public Housing
• Telecommunications 
• Technology Specialist  
• Medical Providers 
• and Support Services Providers of course.  

As the framework for this new model of social reform was being developed under the guidance of the Productivity Commissioner, people with disabilities and their families were very clear the things they wanted the NDIS to achieve the most is social inclusion with meaningful participation in their community.  

They have asked for specific things to be included such as education, employment, an end to underemployment, accessibility to bookshops, libraries, restaurants; recreational activities, sports, sporting venues, gyms, and theaters.

People were very, very specific and very clear on what the visions was for the future. Remember the person in the hospital who was told they would need 24 care, their minds, their thoughts, the feelings, their passions and their dreams are still present. Their vision about a future living with a disability is now taking shape. Their ideas to will be wishes on how they want to be supported will too clearly stated at the right time.    

The person you next support to develop a lifetime support map, could be your husband, your daughter, your grandson or your father. What kind of choices would you want to enable them to make?

Would you be happy for them to go see a movie every day?  Or sit fishing in the summer sun for six hours? If you was the person with the spinal injury and you wanted to stay in bed an hourly longer or have a PJ day; how would you feel if you were made to get up and get dressed? 

With the National Disability Insurance Scheme, trips to the beach, a night at the movies or local pub aren't on any agenda under this reform. The game has changed. Yes, I am sure some clients, who will chose to be continued supported in same way they have always been supported.

The NDIS means We're no longer debating over a clients right to watch an adult movie or get drunk. Our role is now about demanding buildings are accessible. Assisting the client to apply for work or choosing a swimming coach; engaging an advocate so your client can join a choir (as an  intellectual disabilities doesn't affect the voice, just the way you need to teach the person the words.)

If clients are genuinely continuing disappointed with the service receive and/or if the feel their choices are not herd,  NDIS gives them the freedom to go to another service.

I know there are people who like to complain and nothing ever seems good enough for them.  Want to know how I know this? 

Well, I spend about 10 hours every listing to support workers complaining about everything from the husband not putting the wheelie bin out the night before; the neighbours setting traps for the cats because they’re not keeping them in at night; being cheated on by boyfriend; clients not answering the door; shifts either being too short or too long and then of course there’s the weather.

Excuse me - I the one sitting in the wheelchair, I really need to start charging counselors rates, as my degree is in Behavioural Science. For some workers . . . should I chose to complain, I am accused of being hormonal! The fact I have a disability somehow the gives me a hassle free life. Go figure! (For the record that was the week I wrote three grant submissions!) 

If clients are upset for the right reason they will change their provider, just like you won't return to the hairdresser who didn't listen to you. The game has change!

       

     

The road to the introduction of NDIS

I don't assume the transition period between now and the introduction of the NDIS or Disability Care Australia will not be an easier one, as the frustration. confusion and desperation all ready shows.  People are still left unsure on the simple issues, Will I be  eligible?

"If I am 62 not, but Disability Care Australia doesn't commence here in Queensland until 2916.  It not fair that because I live in Queensland I will not be eligible. My needs as a person with a disability don't cease when I turn 65!"

A very valid point, after years of  tears, frustration and either no support services or appropriate services to meet their needs only to find the launch date in their state deems them ineligible. The good news on the introduction and trial sites of Disability Care Australia is on July 1 the starers gun will be fired. For those nearing the age of 65 or born just a few year too early to enjoy the security of NDIS the goods news the these people will be carer for by current aged care funding packages.  Currently their are thousands of young people with disabilities either living in aged care facilities or accessing services intended for older Australians.

As the people join Disability Care Australia and they are moved into more aged appropriate support services, nursing homes beds and funding will be freed up for older Australian with disability such as people who have experience stroke.  I agree more funding will be needed as Australia's population ages.  However for now let us celebrate the improvements the introduction of  Disability Care Australia.

As I talk to parents, cares and families of people with disabilities in their forties, I see a glimmer of hope in their eyes, but I and see and hear despair, pain and frustration. 'We need NDIS now! Not in 5 years time. I don't know if I'll still be here caring for my child in five years, what if I haven't got 5 years?What happens to my son or daughter if I die before then?"

Again valid point of reference. These are real people living real  with real needs.  The people I talk to are exhausted with the frustrations of fighting past and current state governments.  They and the love ones the care for still have to some how survive as they continue to meet the care needs of an adult child.  Remember many of theirs older carers currently receive no government funded support at all and rely on the assistance from other family members, friends and volunteers for a few respite care hours a week. In all the exhaustion this brings to their lives, they are left to care for someone with a significant disability, while trying to access whatever support they can in the meantime.  Added to this they must get the head around a new system of care, underpin by a different level of government based on totally different parameters, and new fundamentals.

To these people you might as well be speaking another language. Concept of social inclusion, community participation, support for open employment, an end to underemployment due to disability and alternative accommodation options are as foreign to them, as people with disabilities living with their families was in the 1920's. It just didn't happen!  All people in the late 60's and 70's who care for their adult children with disabilities is isolation and marginalization for them all their have ever known. To imagine a community in which the NDIS is designed to operated in is beyond comprehension.

I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy in 1970 at about 2 year of age.  At a time doors were just being opened to the community.  These were cracks and only a chosen few passed under the cracks to be allow out.  At that time very few people with disabilities were living as part of the community.  Even my parent were ask to consider state care for me.

I was the only child with a disability at my primary school, one of two when I commenced high  school, one of about 20 when I completed high school.  My school had a support unit for the hearing impaired, and the second person with a disability to enroll at the Darling Downs Institute for Advance Education and the only student ever to graduate from University/College of Southern Queensland.

Like most of the parents of my friends with disabilities, my own parents are in their late 60's who are not as articulate or socially. I know all to well the struggles these people have had because I have walked their journey with them and seen their pain. I too have my on tales to tell of my battles with the Department of Disabilities Services Queensland.

Until now guarded mistrust was a means of survival, when you hear these people talk and listen to their stories, you'll understand both their tears of hope and frustration. The journey forward for us will not be easy.

The concept behind the National Disability Insurance Scheme is much much more the a change in funding for early intervention programs, equipment funding and meeting the support needs of people with disabilities. Each of us holds different hopes for a future under the watch of disability care. For many whose support needs have remain unmet, it the dream of being able to shower everyday, for others its respite to be able to simply doing the grosery shopping and have a cuppa of coffee known their child is being care for at home.

However the NDIS is designed to revolutionize the way we 'think about disability', many will find these principles confronting and challenging to embrace.  The induction of Disability Care Australia in the main a human rights issue.

"It is the recognition the people with disabilities, their families and those who care for them have the same rights to choice as every other Australian.  The right to live in a type of accommodation of their choosing, the right to live with people the own age in a appropriate setting, the right to chose which town or city the wish to live in. The freedom to be able to move interstate without the fear of losing the support funding that already have. The right to early intervention programs and therapies to ensure they reach their full potential and become full participants in the communities in which they live. The right to access thing like education, sporting, leisure and culture activities and the right to full employment rather the the underemployment we have experienced for many years."

For too long in this country we have played lip service to the inclusion of all people with disabilities in the community. Young people with disabilities living in aged care facilities is a far cry from the type of social inclusion people with disabilities and the families are now demanding.  Disability Care Australia is about empowering people with disabilities to have self-determination over their own future.

Yes it is hoped in Queensland that about double the number of people currently receiving support will be  able to receive assistance for the first time. However Disability Care Australia will see major changes on how funding is allocated in many regions across the country. The major change is a specific dollar amount will be attached to an individual's name and that funding must be spent on them.  However some will be surprised than their be no money going into personal bank accounts.  All money must be held in 'trust' by a host provider of an individuals choice.  The money must be spent to help the person with a disability achieve there nominated goals registered with Disability Care Australia.

So some of the fears in remote indigenous communities about people having to sharing their funding with their mob are unfounded.  This is not another welfare payment.  The whole system of the new look disability care  system is to fully engage people in their community and that includes for the majority full employment for the first time.

In order to fully implement the purpose change campaign for under the NDIS the federal government and the wider community must introduce reforms to the education system and housing, transport infrastructure in terms of disability access needs to be urgently address and does public access to building particularity in areas with high employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

I think their are pockets in the community the believe the NDIS is merely a funding shift.  A restructure in funding arrangement between the state and federal governments can not alone create the social changes that are needed to bring about the reforms now legislated.

For the under 40's the reforms perhaps hold the greatest potential for future possibilities.  It is in exploring possibilities that maybe achievable under NDIS that we as a community must now grapple with.  We come from a long history in Australia of a culture that undervalues abilities and achievement of those with disabilities. We have failed despite all the erotic to achieve full equality.

We continue to underestimate the potential for people with disabilities.  When I hear comments from my own support workers about the quality of my work and professionalism.  I think, to myself, what do you expect from a professional?  People do not employ project officers who can not operate professionally and I am in a federal government leadership training program.

Sadly some support workers still see their roles as keeping clients company and entertain, which is carry forwards for the days when support was primarily given for respite care purposes. Today support is about supporting people to achieve their nominated goals.  The goal of my support in the eyes of some workers s to have fun.  Only a few understand the full community engagement I am seeking.  I do not want to be taken to a movie or go out to play the pokies.

There is nothing wrong with these activities their just things I do with my family and friends.  I refuse to pay out if my support funds things I can either do with others or  alone.  My support needs in community access are know their someone with me if I have a seizure and carry things I can't.  This transition seems hard for workers to comprehend when traditionally people with disabilities have been isolated from the communities and support staff are the only people in their clients lives.

I have worked hard to crave out a lifestyle of independence and I celebrate the introduction of disability care and the empowerment it will given me to live, work and grow independently for as long as I can.

However the mindset of what people with disabilities should do, who the chose to hang out, how they form relationships and types of activities the will chose will be greatly challenged by the NDIS.  When we see people with mild intellectual disabilities are now undertaking university studies, those who have supported people with disabilities for many years will feel this shift in types of support services the most.

These workers are no different than other members of community and even parent of people with physical, intellectual and behavioural disabilities I currently work with.

People with disabilities want to be with their friends from school why can the remain a community.  

For some this is what the want and enjoy and the introduction of Disability Care Australia should not take this from them.  However, I challenge how this is attitude from support people in young people lives follows a social inclusive society model.  Sure I see my school friends from time to time.  However when I went off to university our lives took different directions. Today my friends are either people I work or attend church with. Unless a person needs full time supervision provided by supported employment and/or day respite centers, the should not be in my view segregated or set apart from the community  Assimilation in to the workforce and community is a natural progression we all experience upon leaving school. It is assistance in making choices around these lifestyle goals that NDIS seeks to promote.

So when I hear statements like these being made by teachers and teacher-aids in "special education" classrooms I shutter.  I wonder whose "choices" we are really discussing. Are we willing to really let going and let individuals make their own choices, like every other member of the community.  To give people the real power of choice me need to let go and accept they will make very different choices to ones we would make for them.  Some may be wrong  and the consequences painful.

 we do not make choice for our other adult children who are leaving school. Some will chose to drink or smoke and some stupidly will drink and drive.  We might like to control or kids more, but we re frame as the find their own way and make their own choices.

Here many tell me I am wrong and my right to choices goes to far. We have a soical duty to   protect those with disabilities.  I continue to strongly voice this opinion  to give people real choices for their lives we must be prepared to wittiness the ban in order to wittiness who some young people with disabilities will shine.

Yes I think the introduction of disability care will challenge many. The road to NDIS is rocky, challenging and scary. But if we chose to be grown-ups and embrace the journey together the destination will be worth it!

Disability Care Australia (NDIS) the first step towards full social inclusion

Exploring possibilities

The introduction of Disability Care Australia is a revolutionary concept that is designed to encourage and enable greater community inclusion of people with a disability.  Through the promotion of individual choice and the first real opportunity for people with significant disability and their families to have self-direction for their life based on their own hopes and dreams for the future. It is hoped where feasible people with disabilities will engaged in all aspects of community life give the right early intervention and support systems in their lives.

This is a move away from traditional values and attitudes that have previously seen people with disabilities  become isolated in their community either through disability or the time commitments involved in caring for a family member who has a significant disability meaning even family members have been excluded and isolated.

As we walk towards the implementation of Disability Care Australia previously known as the NDIS the challenges before us are great.  However our biggest challenge before us is to change the way we limit and define what is possible for a child or adult with disabilities, we in the past our expectations have been low and very limiting.

Along with improving physical access to buildings, the workplace and public transport we to need to see a major shift in attitudes towards people with disabilities and the inclusion of their families. If our attitudes, especially those of us who work in the disability sector are not challenged and expanded than the hopes and dreams of thousands of NDIS campaigners will be lost at we stand a the precepts of a revolution to ensure the social inclusion of people with disabilities.

This includes one of the biggest challenges for us, employment. People with disabilities tell us they want to work, however at the same time they have the right to meaningful employment and fair wages, not just the type of employment opportunities offered by sheltered workshops in the past.  Working towards full inclusion will require us to expand our horizons of what is possible even in the workplace and even force us to look for alternative ways to achieve our goals and work results, as seen in this story. 

 ABC journalist breaking new ground - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation):

'via Blog this'

I personal believe we have much to learn about ourselves, our attitudes and the self determination of people with disability and their families before earn even begin to let go of out previously preconceptions of what is possible and deactivated this inbuilt tendency to overprotect those with disabilities.  

Let us be excited about the possibilities tomorrow can bring . 

Choices creating possibilities!

Young man with Autism Graduates 

with his Masters!

It's a statement I hear often, It is not our disabilities that limit us, rather attitude and the attitudes of those around us. The change that has urushered in a new system of Disability Care in Australia, is on of the biggest shift in thinking Australia has even gone.  It requires a shift in thinking . . . and shift in attitude.

On July in 5 trail sites around Australia the doors to Disability Care Australia will open for the first time.  For the first time people with disabilities  the families and adult graudin will be given choices about the way the want the support needs to be meet. While Disability Care Australia will see in real injection of funding to meet the unmet needs of 10, 000's  of people living with primate serve disability, it also aims to 'revoluationalised  the way we have historically thought of disability and how we have 'cared' for these people.

Often during these debates I have heard these people refer to as 'the most vulnerable members of our community. Our ingrain first reaction and need to protect these individuals with disabilities is very strong. I living with a disability know first hand their are many people in our society ready to take advantaged of those who are traditionally viewed as having a weakness.  Sadly there is an element in our society that will exploit anyone with any type or weakness and we do not have to have a disability to fall pray to these people.  Our expressions tell powerfully stories of how we view people with disabilities and labeling them as being the most vulnerable people in the community, makes a powerful statement for protection.

However these statements and therefore judgments are made on traditional and historical views of people with disabilities. Historically people with disability and their families were isolated from their community. They were not given opportunities to be educated or seek employment.  No one challenge that their was more that one way people could play tennis and ruby.  People who need to mobilize in wheelchairs and artiphical limbs now compete on an international playing field.  My friends playing powerchair rub is a new normal even for me!

So as we march towards a new era in Disability Care we need as a society openly acknowledge that we need to work together to extend the bounds of "possibilities".  People with intellectual and sensory disabilities are now guarduating from high school and going on to territory education.  People of equal education levels should not been label 'vulnerable' on the bases of diagnoses along. 

Thus the first change we will see under Disability Care Australia is a shift in the way people with disabilities and their families are assessed.  Not longer will we ask what a person can't do, we will ask what the person who like to do or about the 'dreams' parents have for their children.  Even our fundamental assessment tools have contributed to the undervaluing of people with disabilities.  So in order to make these major changes and see a true enrichment in the lives of people with disabilities, their families and those who care for them we need to choose to ask smarter questions.  It a child with Cerebral Palsy has intensive physio is it possible the may be able to walk?  Not can your child walk?  

Hopefully as we shift the way we make our assessments and the way we define what is possible. Our natural insticts to protect to people with disabilities will decline and we will be willing to lossing the  puppet stings enough to give people real choice and real direction over their lives.

As my regular readers know to give people choices means we need to accept that some people with disabilities and some family members will make poor choices resulting in people being harmed in same way people chose to smoke.  To give people real choices means the person making the choice is responsible for the results good or bad.

One I the things that will leader to greater acceptance of choice is to begin now to ask ourselves, is it possible that my son or daughter could live independently in the community if they were given the right support.  It is only after we ask 'what is possible' when can then ask how do we make this possible, what are the right type of supports for 'my child'.  What does my child need help with to get out of bed ans to arrive at TAFE/work or the day centre on time?

To get the right answers, we need to learn how to ask the right questions.  To do this me need time to allow ourselves to explore possibilities that have never been there before. Need possibilities because of better supports, advances in medicine and technology, shifting in attitudes and more access to education and early intervention programs.

The first step we can take in this journey together is today.  Today we can start to change the question we are asking ourselves and service providers.  Today we can begin to ask what it possible given the opportunity to make different choice.  What could our future look like.  So when we reach our turn to switch to Disability Care Australia or be assess we already know the possibilities we want to make real!  Are you ready . . .  ?