Is NDIS old stuff dressed up?

All that glitters is not gold!

Participant Goal: To grow my visual artist practice 

Service provides have talked about clients achieving their individual goals for many years, so how different is the NDIS?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is different, because setting your personal goals is the first step in the process. The NDIS is about planning for the best future you can have.  It is about you as an individual and your dreams and aspirations. Once participants can clearly define these, only then is the question asked how can you best be supported to achieve these goals.

Under the current system we need to prove what we can't do? Then the Department looks at what support you need, what informal supports you have and offers support.  That support is not always appropriate. Once you are placed with a service then you may but often not) be asked about your goals.  So yes, I am confident that the NDIS flips things on there head.

So here the steps in a journey you are about to embark on.

• Check your eligibility
• Begin you planning - Prepare your participant statement and carers statements. These are two separate things. The first one is by the person with the disability, it gives a snap shot of what the person looks like now.  So using pictures, drawings and photos of the person might be a great tool. You want to capture what they enjoy and don't enjoy. You may want to engage current workers to assist.  The NDIA also will ask for a list of current supports. And a general picture on what they would like life to look like.  Here you will have immediate goals, short term goals and long terms goals. A carer's statement should include how you support the person now, any concerns you have about the future: What happens when I die is one many older carers will have. What are your hopes for the person you care for? What support do you need as a carer.  The NDIA will always support the participants goals rather than the carers hopes. Gather the people in your life who can best support the person in the planning process so if the person is non-verbal pictures, photos, drawings and videos are ways to give them a voice.  Ask them the pictures they want to show to the NDIA planner.
• Setting the participants goals - a goal must be achievable e.g. moving into my own home.  It may not be next month, it may be in five years time.  But if its listed as a goal the NDIA will fund steps. So moving out of home is a long term goal; short term goals maybe assessing what is possible; exploring possible accommodation; trails and working on independent living skills. If its not in your plan it will not be funded.
• Funding allocation - what supports are needed to allow the person to achieve their goals.
• How will funds be managed as some funding may be allocated to assist with funds.
• Approval of NDIS plan
• Time to go shopping for your support needs - choices your provider is the last step.  Note the a provider must be approved by the NDIA.

So as you can see the NDIS choice of wardrobe is very different to what we have now.  Happy planning for your future.

Deb!