Building Capacity and the NDIS

One of the things I am invested in is building capacity of communities, presently my focus is on the Ipswich arts community and ensuring artists with disabilities are includes in the visual arts at grassroots level.  I love to say being an arts worker combines my two passions - art and advocating for all those living with disabilities, including families.  So naturally this will be incorporated into my personal ndis goals.

This week I sat down with part of team Deb to refresh the team on my goals and how they might look for my next plan.  I already know they will look very different, as I am a different person to 'who I was when I transitioned to the ndis.  For one thing I am fitter, stronger and healthier! 

My major goal for the last two years has been to have a solo art exhibition outside the boundaries of Ipswich.  On the 24th February I achieved that goal.  This is a huge undertaking for any emerging artist and a financial risk,  needing to use my wheelchair for fatigue takes the courage needed to the next level.  An artist lives with the critics, when it comes to art everybody is a critic.  What has happened that should not be happening is workers in the disability sector questioning my goals and implying I am bound to fail.

So what?  Failure is part of the human condition and nothing creates a more fertile ground for learning. I do push myself and between you and me - that is the secret to success! 

How I see success is very different to the rest of the world.  Success is not money, but the legacy I leave after I am gone.  The National Disability Insurance Scheme is primarily about assistance to participate in society.  Belonging is a basic human right that the ndis seeks to correct.  But what do we belong to!

Surprisingly not all my support workers knew my ndis goals, despite them being clearly written in my Team Induction Guide.  Some support workers see every participant's goal is to improve social skills and interaction.  Some of my workers in the past have thought taking me for coffee assisted me in this area.  Can I share something . . . this is not one of my needs.  I could have coffee with a different friend for the next 50 days plus . . . if I choose too.

Turning 50 with friends

Under the ndis that is not the point!  The point is CHOICE! What I do and with who is for me to decide not someone I employ to assist me.  People with disabilities and their families now have a choice on -

• How they want to be supported
• Who they want to support them (service providers or employing their own workers)
• Who they want to work directly with
• When they want that support

How participants engage in their communities will be different. Not many participants will choose to be a artist seeking to have artwork purchase by the Australian Art Bank and many do not know this is where galleries hire some of their exhibitions from.  This is my long term goal - the ultimate.  So short term I like the Ipswich Gallery to purchase my work or to host an exhibition by me.

So having a Chi latte with a worker I am irritated with is not how I want to socialise.  In my opinion these workers are wasting my time and I am paying them to do that!

The word 'participant' implies a person is actively engaged in a activity or program.  Going to the local shopping centre is not a social activity for most people -  I might enjoy that with my sister or a friend.  Other than that I send people to do that for me - and that is how I exercise my choice.  If you are a participant that might be the thing you most love to do. I think that's the coolest thing about the ndis - we as individuals get to do what we love doing, rather than 'following the leader!'

This will only continue if participants exercise their right to choose and speak up when they're not happy with a decision made by the ndis, a service or a support worker.  In the business world we say 'the customer is always right'.  When it comes to the ndis you are a customer. 

However community living is more than service providers, families and participants.  It is the neighborhood in which we live, work and play. Sadly for many of those living with disabilities neighborhoods are often not accessible.  Here is where the ndis should be assisting but too often adds a barrier for us to overcome.  For the scheme to work community organizations and government workers need to work with communities to highlight barriers for people living with disabilities and explore ways the community can become accessible. 

This ramp has sat mostly unused for the last 5 years.  Today I dropped it off at Limestone Emporium.  The owners face just lit up that her shop became accessible to young mums part of her target market. (and me with a sore foot at present - these days I waltz in!) If we're honest access effects everyone in the community.  Just ask Ipswich artist who are trying to enter the art awards today and the council website crashed - you can't be connected, try again later. 

For someone with a disability connecting is a daily occurrence.  Just as I helped my friend connect with her customers today, we need to walk alongside those struggling to connect to the community.  It isn't our problem and it isn't the community's problem, it is a human problem! 

When we limit ourselves, we limit others

and that takes away the choices of others.

March 25 is world CP day

I may have Cerebral Palsy

But CP does not have me!

Before I go I'd like to acknowledge BEMAC for investing in me and my art practise. This investment will support Mieke Den Otter and myself to demonstrate to local Kindergarten children that creating artwork is work. 

Thank you