Comments on: Breaking Point: 4 Corners Tonight http://notjustwork.info/archives/breaking-point-4-corners-tonight Exploring relationships between people with disabilities and attendant carers Wed, 26 May 2010 05:18:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Les http://notjustwork.info/archives/breaking-point-4-corners-tonight/comment-page-1#comment-6069 Les Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:13:10 +0000 http://notjustwork.info/?p=143#comment-6069 The issue is not when or if an insurance scheme is set up but HOW its going to operate. Unless it focuses on an individuals life's plan it has the potential to be no better than it is now. Everyone has different needs and aspirations. Some people may require specialised equipment and others may need assistance to live independently or to access basic services. The list in the disability field is endless. Regardless of the severity of a disability everyone has the right to live meaningful lives and should be given the means to do so. Families who have no other choice but to care for their child as they themselves age and whither should also be a major part of the plan. We have put together a plan for our son which highlights many of the areas that are specific to him. This can be seen at the following URL: It only shows the key areas in the menu bar roll -overs at the top. His actual plan has all of the areas filled in with specific detail. http://www.adam.org.au/example_plan.htm If the insurance scheme does not positively address this issue correctly it may leave people with disabilities further out in the cold. DHS has a full copy of my sons plan. When we asked for several weeks respite last year the response was, yes we can do this and we can put him into a centre while you have a holiday. He can have a holiday as well. Some holiday that would have been. We did manage to get the additional support tagged onto his current plan and kept him out of the centre. But if bureaucrats continue to have this approach to services I shudder for the future. So. Individual plans for people with disabilities (completed by the individual with the support of their family of advocacy group if required) and a complete retraining program for bureaucrats along with community awareness. That might work. The issue is not when or if an insurance scheme is set up but HOW its going to operate. Unless it focuses on an individuals life’s plan it has the potential to be no better than it is now. Everyone has different needs and aspirations. Some people may require specialised equipment and others may need assistance to live independently or to access basic services. The list in the disability field is endless. Regardless of the severity of a disability everyone has the right to live meaningful lives and should be given the means to do so. Families who have no other choice but to care for their child as they themselves age and whither should also be a major part of the plan. We have put together a plan for our son which highlights many of the areas that are specific to him. This can be seen at the following URL: It only shows the key areas in the menu bar roll -overs at the top. His actual plan has all of the areas filled in with specific detail.

http://www.adam.org.au/example_plan.htm

If the insurance scheme does not positively address this issue correctly it may leave people with disabilities further out in the cold. DHS has a full copy of my sons plan. When we asked for several weeks respite last year the response was, yes we can do this and we can put him into a centre while you have a holiday. He can have a holiday as well. Some holiday that would have been. We did manage to get the additional support tagged onto his current plan and kept him out of the centre. But if bureaucrats continue to have this approach to services I shudder for the future. So. Individual plans for people with disabilities (completed by the individual with the support of their family of advocacy group if required) and a complete retraining program for bureaucrats along with community awareness. That might work.

]]> By: Peter http://notjustwork.info/archives/breaking-point-4-corners-tonight/comment-page-1#comment-6068 Peter Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:38:36 +0000 http://notjustwork.info/?p=143#comment-6068 The program was very scary and the fact that people were having to head overseas to the UK to get reasonable outcomes was appalling. Not everyone has this option as few people have dual passports. I am also concerned that Bill Shorten doesn't think the National Disability Insurance Scheme could be operable until well into a second term of the Rudd government. The program was very scary and the fact that people were having to head overseas to the UK to get reasonable outcomes was appalling. Not everyone has this option as few people have dual passports. I am also concerned that Bill Shorten doesn’t think the National Disability Insurance Scheme could be operable until well into a second term of the Rudd government.

]]> By: Ricky Buchanan http://notjustwork.info/archives/breaking-point-4-corners-tonight/comment-page-1#comment-6065 Ricky Buchanan Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:42:05 +0000 http://notjustwork.info/?p=143#comment-6065 I found this really scary to watch, as it's an issue which is relevant to me personally as a person with severe disabilities. The way the system currently works as a lottery with some who are relatively "lucky" in terms of services provided and some who are in the same situation but "unlucky" is crazy... but I'm one of the "lucky" ones I know. If I wasn't, I don't think I could continue to keep myself out of a nursing home honestly. I'm scared that it's a problem so huge that the government will continue to ignore it. It's not as if overburdened people with disabilities and overworked carers have a lot of political pull :( I found this really scary to watch, as it’s an issue which is relevant to me personally as a person with severe disabilities. The way the system currently works as a lottery with some who are relatively “lucky” in terms of services provided and some who are in the same situation but “unlucky” is crazy… but I’m one of the “lucky” ones I know. If I wasn’t, I don’t think I could continue to keep myself out of a nursing home honestly.

I’m scared that it’s a problem so huge that the government will continue to ignore it. It’s not as if overburdened people with disabilities and overworked carers have a lot of political pull :(

]]> By: Peter http://notjustwork.info/archives/breaking-point-4-corners-tonight/comment-page-1#comment-6053 Peter Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:22:41 +0000 http://notjustwork.info/?p=143#comment-6053 I think this is an important program for us all to watch. It highlights a very important issue which needs to be addressed quickly. I think this is an important program for us all to watch. It highlights a very important issue which needs to be addressed quickly.

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