NDIS Services Brisbane
Throughout human history, the concept of “disability” was not as accepted as it looks like today. Before, when a person experiences unusual conditions such as dementia or other cognitive disorders, there is always the stigma that their condition is a result of them being ‘unlucky’, ‘cursed’, or ‘demon-possessed. After the World War, the number of people with severed limbs or broken body parts also increased, and this called for the local government to do something with people that needs assistance in life.
Slowly, medical doctors and researchers began to study and publish articles that enlighten the condition of people with cognitive conditions and the stigma began to slowly disappear. Until today, humans are still continually educating people about these conditions that might seem bizarre at first but is more usual than what people expect.
NDIS in Australia
No country is exempted from these conditions. This is why in Australia, the government has decided to create the NDIS or the National Disability Insurance Scheme to help disabled people and remove the stigma that these people are a result of ‘curses’ or ‘bad luck’.
According to a web report written by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the ratio of people with disabilities to normal people is 16.67%. That means that for every 6 people in Australia, there is at least 1 individual with a mild to severe case of disability. It was also found that 32% of adults with disabilities experience a high level of psychological distress, unlike in normal people where only 8% percent experience a high level of psychological distress. This means that for every 100 workers, there are at least 32 people who experience mental health issues.
NDIS is designed to help and to give disabled people hope that their disability is not a hindrance for them to live a normal life. With the NDIS implemented in Australia, people with disabilities can still live and coexist with normal people.
Benefits of the NDIS Program
Applying for the NDIS might be daunting at first because patients must take multiple assessments, apply for access requests, and answer few interviews before they get queued for the program. However, this should not discourage them because the benefits far outweigh all the tedious processes.
It is also important to take note that the service that the patients will get is the same regardless of where they apply. Depending on the condition of the patient, the budget allocation and services offered will also vary. A patient with a more severe condition often gets better plans, but it still depends on the assessment. The best thing to do is to take the program from the nearest local NDIA or NDIS certified clinic and to be honest as possible with the assessor to avoid further delays with the process.
There are 3 main categories of support that the NDIS program can offer:
Core Assistance. This assistance from NDIS includes getting support through therapies that will help the patient complete simple daily tasks and normal living activities.
Capital. From the word itself, the support comes through money. This type of support is given to those who need money to buy medicine, equipment that will help the disabled person recover.
Capacity Building. Like the Core, the patient undergoes training with basic skills like reading, writing, or memorising.
These 3 categories are the only generalisation of the many support that the patient may get from the NDIS. The patient may also have multiple support depending on the result of the assessment and the plan that suits the condition of the patient. Here is a more detailed list of support that the NDIS program may provide:
Basic Transportation skills training
Support with consumables, medicines, and supplies
Socialising Assistance or Social Skills
Installation of assistive technology
Planned living arrangements
Job Application opportunities
Improved learning, live style, daily living seminars or training
However, there are limitations to this list. These supports must only be used for improving the condition of the patient. If the patient is found to use the support for reasons other than their disability, the NDIA might revoke the NDIS program from the patient.
It is also good to know that the NDIS is not designed to be lifetime support. Rather, it is a program aimed to help the patient eventually become independent of help from the program. This may not remove the disability from the patient completely, but at the least, the patient can start to live normally like other people.
How to apply for NDIS in Brisbane
Before getting the benefits above, a patient must be first eligible and registered to the NDIA. This prevents patients from getting multiple accounts and it also prevents people from faking their disability and taking advantage of the program. Here are the 4 usual steps in applying for the NDIS program in Brisbane or any state:
Do a Self-assessment
To not waste time, a patient may self-assess himself/herself first before going to a local NDIA or clinic. These questions may help a patient assess whether they can be a candidate for the NDIS program:
Are you between 7 and 65? Are you taking care of someone below age of 7?
Do you live in Australia? Are you an Australian Citizen?
Do you ask for support from your relatives because of your disability?
Are you using a piece of special equipment that you need support in maintaining?
Do you need support today to mitigate your future needs?
Make an access request
After the self-assessment, the patient may now request an access request from the NDIS through the hotline 1800 800 110 or he/she can submit the request via email. He/she can also contact the local NDIA.
Answer the Access Request questions
The NDIA must respond and give the patient survey regarding the identity of the patient (or the patient’s representative), the patient’s eligibility, and the patient’s consent to enter the NDIS program. Some NDIA also ask for information about the disability and its effect on the patient’s daily life.
Provide more information about the disability
The patient then must provide complete and accurate information regarding his/her disability. Along with the evidence, the patient must come after taking assessments advised by his/her doctor. There are 11 types of disability evidence that are accepted by the NDIS program:
Primary Disability – Acquired Brain Injury
Primary Disability – Autism
Primary Disability – Cerebral palsy
Primary Disability – Hearing impairment
Primary Disability – Intellectual disability, Developmental delay, Global developmental delay, Down Syndrome
Primary Disability – Multiple Sclerosis
Primary Disability – Psychosocial disability
Primary Disability – Spinal cord injury
Primary Disability – Stroke
Primary Disability – Vision impairment
Primary Disability – Other
For more details on NDIS Services in Brisbane, citizens and residents may ring up Positive Moods, email them at ndis@positivemoods.com.au, or fill out the contact form on the Positive Moods website https://www.positivemoods.com.au/contactus.