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A thread about the NDIA's new hard and fast rules and why this won't work for disabled people.
Remember, the scheme was supposed to provide you with the reasonable and necessary help that you need because you are disabled, to help you have an ordinary life. #RoboNDIS
Remember, the scheme was supposed to provide you with the reasonable and necessary help that you need because you are disabled, to help you have an ordinary life. #RoboNDIS
2/ Here are the new assistive technology rules.
There's a scenario about a dishwasher.
Aisha 'feels that she needs a dishwasher' but the NDIA won't fund that. Because, apparently, everyone has a dishwasher.
Note - I have never had a dishwasher. Neither have many others.
There's a scenario about a dishwasher.
Aisha 'feels that she needs a dishwasher' but the NDIA won't fund that. Because, apparently, everyone has a dishwasher.
Note - I have never had a dishwasher. Neither have many others.
3/ The idea is that we don't buy things that are things everyone else would buy, unless they are reasonable and necessary.
Let's make this an actual scenario. Aisha has very short arms - her hands are only a few inches from her shoulder. Her mother was given thalidomide.
Let's make this an actual scenario. Aisha has very short arms - her hands are only a few inches from her shoulder. Her mother was given thalidomide.
4/ So this is now the Agency's decision. No dishwasher for Aisha. Instead, she has a support worker to do her dishes.
Let's look at the cost of that.
Most of the people I know pay about $35ph if self managing. Let's say an hour a day for dishes even though there are min times.
Let's look at the cost of that.
Most of the people I know pay about $35ph if self managing. Let's say an hour a day for dishes even though there are min times.
5/ 365 days per year times 12 years, which Mr Appliance says is the lifespan of a dishwasher. We shall pretend double time and holiday rates do not exist, shall we? Just to be on the conservative side.
That's $12775 a year.
$153,300 for 12 years.
A very expensive dishwasher.
That's $12775 a year.
$153,300 for 12 years.
A very expensive dishwasher.
6/ Now read the imaginary case study on the page (and you might note how physical disability heavy these are). Maali is refused a washing machine for the flimsiest of reasons. It's a regular cost, they say, even though Maali can't use the regular machine. https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/would-we-fund-it/assistive-technologies/household-items
7/ Here's a secondary example of their reasoning. They will no longer fund private swimming lessons, because it is 'parental responsibility'.
https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/would-we-fund-it/improved-health-and-wellbeing/swimming-lessons-early-childhood
When I say 'disabled people will die', this is exactly what I am talking about. This kind of decision making.
https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/would-we-fund-it/improved-health-and-wellbeing/swimming-lessons-early-childhood
When I say 'disabled people will die', this is exactly what I am talking about. This kind of decision making.
8/ Here are some fun facts that I am sure will not matter to the NDIA at all.
One of my autistic family members, in their 20s, cannot swim at all. 'Never got the hang of it', the young person says. But in addition, we lived in the country. There was no pool in our town.
One of my autistic family members, in their 20s, cannot swim at all. 'Never got the hang of it', the young person says. But in addition, we lived in the country. There was no pool in our town.
9/ The young person would have benefited enormously by being taught by someone who could help them 'get the hang of it'. Never happened.
Here's another fun fact.
If you are an autistic child, you are at least 3 times as likely to drown. https://adc.bmj.com/content/105/9/869
Probably more.
Here's another fun fact.
If you are an autistic child, you are at least 3 times as likely to drown. https://adc.bmj.com/content/105/9/869
Probably more.
10/ Another cool and fun fact. Drowning is the leading cause of death for autistic children. Wild, right?
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/drowning-is-the-leading-cause-of-death-among-children-with-autism-report
What do you think we could do to MITIGATE that risk? And when you say 'parental responsibility' - WHEN? Most of us work every hour your god sends.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/drowning-is-the-leading-cause-of-death-among-children-with-autism-report
What do you think we could do to MITIGATE that risk? And when you say 'parental responsibility' - WHEN? Most of us work every hour your god sends.
11/ I honestly do not think these decision makers know what our lives look like - honestly, I do not. If I look at this and the NDIA's recommendation - https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/would-we-fund-it/improved-health-and-wellbeing/swimming-lessons-early-childhood - well, Tommy just drowned. There is no such animal as that therapist in many of the regions.
12/ Let's look at one more. There are a lot of disabilities that cause weight gain and this is why this is apparently controversial. Because 'everybody goes to the gym' and it is a 'day to day living cost', right?
Holy shit, people. https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/would-we-fund-it/improved-health-and-wellbeing/gym-membership
Holy shit, people. https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/would-we-fund-it/improved-health-and-wellbeing/gym-membership
13/ You DO know that since 2015, 270 000 people with disability have been kicked off DSP and onto Jobseeker - yes?
How, exactly, do you propose that people live in poverty and buy dishwashers and iPads and gym memberships? For MOST of us, a gym membership is a luxury.
How, exactly, do you propose that people live in poverty and buy dishwashers and iPads and gym memberships? For MOST of us, a gym membership is a luxury.
14/ Poverty is not our problem, I hear you say. But that is not precisely true. It is the assumption that most people live a certain way or have the things that you people have on your comfortable APS wages.
Please feel free to look up the NDIA's wage structures.
Please feel free to look up the NDIA's wage structures.
15/ The last scenario on that page - this approach is so unhelpful to so many of the families I know who have children or adults in their family with conditions like Prader Willi syndrome, desperately needing help to battle obesity.
These kids die in their 20s, often.
These kids die in their 20s, often.
16/ I do not know which focus group of well dressed bureaucrat came up with this week's batch of new, punitive rules. But I would be very bloody interested to see the spend so far on dishwashers and washing machines and iPads (outside of 2020, where there was a special amnesty).
17/ This sounds almost reasonable , but when you look at the spending on this to date- you know, I would like a dishwasher, too. But I can still stand for a while, can still wash dishes. Like most disabled people, I do what I can for as long as I can.
I wish they all knew that.
I wish they all knew that.
