ndis and belonging

As human beings we all have one basic need . . . to belong and people living with disability are no exception.  The National Disability Insurance Scheme is designed to assist people to participate in the community and enjoy relationships with others.  The ndis is about ensuring all people in Australia live quality lives. 

People with disabilities have families, friendships, have relationships, get married, enjoy getting out and about, work, play sport, enjoy arts and craft and travel the world.  The lives of many people with disabilities look no different to your own, while others need assistance to access the community, work, sporting events and the cultural life of the community.

Disability occurs when a person can not access society due to impairment. No one is born with a disability, rather it is the way our society has been structured which leads to someone being disabled or experiencing disabilities.  Thus we were all born equal. The structure of society denies access to people with impairments  and family members, these barriers may be physical, psychological, social, intellectual or attitudinal.

The single most disabling factor in our modern day community is the way we limit ourselves, when we limit ourselves often we indirectly limit others. Someone doesn't need an impairment to experience access issues or disability.

Lack of literacy skills or education can be as equally disabling as a physical or intellectual disability.  All these groups can experience difficulties accessing certain information, needed in their daily life. Disability is a normal part of the human condition, societies structure has lead to the marginalisation of those with impairments. 

The road to the introduction of the ndis was born from a human rights issue and a grassroots movement led by people experiencing disability themselves, as we demanded to belong!  Born equal they wanted to experience equality.  Many people with disabilities and mental illness have historically not had a voice, not been involved in political life, and not had equal access to the Judicial system. To obtain this they needed to gain a collective voice and political representation.  This gave voice to the every Australian Counts Campaign. 

I count! We all count!

The ndis is a scheme for all Australians not just the 460 000 Australians like me who will directly benefit through support to meet our access needs.  It recognises anyone can give birth to a child with an impairment or acquire impairments at anytime.  By the age of 80; 9 out of 10 people will have acquired some type of impairment that leads to an experience of disability.  This is why the ndis is a scheme for all Australians.  ndis not only addresses the individual access needs of those experiencing disability, it also addresses the structures in society that lead to disability. 

One tier of the ndis addresses the daily living needs of those experiencing disability: such as equipment, modification to buildings and cars, technology, personal care, early intervention programs and community access. 

ndis also addresses access barriers in the community itself, through education, advocacy, and disability action plans.  To allow Australians with disability to fully participate in community life we need to dissolve structures that are disabling, changing the way we view people living with impairments is the biggest challenge.  We need to move away from the traditional charity model to a model of belonging.  A model of belonging acknowledges no one is born with disability and we are all responsible for the ways Australians experience disability. 

We must cease to view the ndis as assisting those less fortunate and see it the way it was intended.  To give all Australians equal access to society and its function.  The ndis was not intended to be needs based, nor a government welfare it is a system to support those living with disability to live their best lives through achieving their goals.  Until this shift in thinking occurs the key principles of the ndis are at risk.

As an artist I belong to a rich cultural community that is not always accessible to someone with my level of impairment.  Many educational institutions and smaller galleries are not accessible. Luckily with support I can climb steps and sit back in my chair, however many fellow artists can not visit the galleries in which their work hangs. 

We who belong have a responsibility to bridge the access points and this includes ensuring the ndis is delivered as originally designed.