NDIS: How can I be involved with art?

Art is a whole brunch of things to different people. Even academics in arts fields debate over the question of what is art?  Artists vs crafts and the growth of Artisan Markets. For us it doesn't matter, whether its art; whether is craft; whether your producing for a art gallery, markets or online sales.

Your NDIS plan is about you and where you want art to fit into your lifestyle and how you wish to achieve your goals. Not everyone wants to be a professional artists.  The simple answer to my question is:  The NDIS will support you to do ART - YOUR WAY!

Some of the reasons people include art in their lives are:-

• Professionalism - A professional artist is someone who sells art.
• Enjoyment - As a hobby or interest, something they enjoy doing either alone or with others as a social activity.  Like belonging to a craft group.
• As part of a day service or support service group.  Art and craft many be one of the regular activities your service provider offers.
• My current service provider offers art and craft retreats as social activities and respite for careers.
• A learning experience -  This could be formal through University or TAFE or an informal community art class. Or a community art workshop program such as ArtISability.
• The process of creating art can boost self-esteem and self-confidence. (NB this is very different to art therapy), to me all art is therapeutic!
• Art Therapy is offered by professional physiologist and offer linked to cognitive therapy and physiologists. 
• There are another group of people who appreciate art and love visiting galleries and sometimes become art collectors.
• Employment - Arts workers and people working in the arts industry - this is a different field to being a professional artist.
• Supported or open studios -  Support Studios are currently funded by the Department of Communities and will become a specialised type of support services operating under the NDIS. Currently in Southeast Queensland their is a visual arts studio run by Access Arts Queensland and Arts From the Margins run by the Wesley Mission.
• ALARA Queensland are in the progress of restoring Dignle Dell in North Ipswich which will become home to artists using their support services.
• CPL in Queensland also offer center based 'arts' programs. When we talk about the 'arts' we are usually referring to all arts including performance, dance, music, comedy, writing, acting, film, small stage, circus and the visual arts, (which involves the product of artworks such as painting, sculpture, pottery, textiles, photography and much, much more . . . . CPL at Springfield run a multi-disciplinary  arts program which includes; music, film, computer design and graphics, visual arts and dance.
• Community Access Transitional Services Inc. offers CATS players a drama/ dance group which recently produce a short film.
• An open studio such as the Jam Factory . . . in Adelaide is a studio space used by all community artists and also runs a number of workshops and community classes.

This is by no means a exhaustive list of choices. As you start to scribble your draft NDIS goals or family goals, you make like to briefly categorized your life.  Work, Accommodation, Study & training, Social Activity, hobbies & interests, and Health & Well being.  I feel this is important as you need to ensure you have the correct "supports", to enable you achieve you goals.

If you are a professional artists working 50 plus hours a week, 2 hours support for and an art lesson isn't going to work for you.  You might be the art teacher. At the 'My Art, My Way', conference there was to hopes for artists.  The possibility of a freelance arts worker like myself being able to employ a personal assistance or an artists/support worker as a mentor.

Some "choices" we will be able to make under the NDIS remain unclear, as are services fees for supported art studio, we know art supplies will not be covered by the NDIA. It is important to note the NDIS will only pay of items and services that are directly related to your disabilities.

In terms of supplementing you income as a student you could apply for a study allowance, or their are a number of professional development grants including the Regional Arts Development Fund through the Ipswich City Council, Arts Queensland and the Australia Arts Council.

When writing your goals you want to be as specific as you can so the NDIA understands the resources to are asking for to allow you to achieve your goals. 

1. State your goal
2. Outline the steps (how you want to achieve you goal)
3. Resource (supports)

Under the NDIS "supports" are used in a slightly different way. The NDIA refers to "supports" as being both 'formal' and 'informal' supports, equipment, technology and some therapies.  So if your child has Autism art therapy may be listed as a 'resource' rather than a goal.  

The term 'goal' implies the will be a tangible outcome. Like a painting which you can sell or the set-up of an Etsy Store online.

• A goal must be tangible or measurable. Their must be a 'finish-line' so the NDIA knows when you have achieved your goal and your progress can be measure.

Example goals

• Create a body of artwork for exhibition
• Produce enough artwork for a market stall
• Set-up an online point of sale
• Paint a picture
• Do an oil painting
• Complete my Degree in Fine Arts
• Sell my artwork
• Learn ceramics
• Attend community art classes
• Attend Art Camp

While goals have a clear finish line the steps (method) you take many not be so visually clear.

For example:

Goal: Do a community art class

Step 1: Research community art classes in your area

Step 2: Enrol in drawing classes

Step 3: Attend all art classes

Note not all art classes will result in finish artwork

Goal: To attend an community art group for social interaction; self-satification and to build self-confidence in community interactions.

Goal area is; Hobbies & interests

Outcomes: Social interaction in the community and self-confidence

Measurement: Number of times attendant

Physical evidence: art work in progress or completed

This goal many not have steps, if you have already identified the group you or a family member will be attending.

Resources:  Participant to pay fees and for art supplies. 3 hours a week one-on-one support to attend the group plus some time to buy art supplies.

Goals can be long-term, short-term or immediate goals, a sound NDIS should contain a combination of goals.

• Long term goals 3 to 5 years
• Short term goals less than 3 years
• Immediate goal - can be actioned now

Example

Goal Area:     Professionalism/Work

Long term      To sell my artwork through my solo art exhibition

Short Term:   To complete a body of artwork to exhibit and sell

Immediate:     Research potential art galleries to exhibit in

Step 1:            Prepare proposal for gallery

Step 2:            Acceptance; make booking & pay deposit

Step 3:            Start making artwork

Step 4:

Note: Many gallery proposal require sample artwork and a detailed outline of what to expect from your exhibition and description of work. So you might need to make artwork before you write  your proposal. Many galleries are booked 2 to 3 years in advance so you steps may need to be changed around a little.

Resources:     Support to communicate with art galleries

                      Support with online research and writing proposal

                      Support to budget and by art supplies

                      Support to make artwork

Type of support will vary from person to person.

So how about you get started on your goal to write you NDIS plan.

                        

 

Som

Planning for the NDIS

Feeling like your in a maze as you prepare for meet with your NDIS planer? You are definitely not alone.  The major change you need to understand to give you choice and control of the NDIS package you or your family will receive is the support give is assigned according to you NDIS goals.

The NDIS encourages families and individuals to 'live their best life'. They want people to live lives that reflect those of their peers and where possible fully participate in the community. So the first clue in writing goals is they should lead to increased community participation.

It's cool to have goals around independent living and becoming more independent at home, if that leads to community involvement for family members and the participant. One of the key agenda's of the National Disability Insurance Scheme is to increase the independence of people living with disabilities over time and support people to move out of home. This is one of the solutions to the aging carer problem.  Imagine seeing you child settled before you pass on.

Planning and writing your NDIS goals requires you to think about:

• What do I want my or my child's life to look like in three years time?
• What do I want my or my child's life to look like in five years time?
• What do I want my or my child's life to look like in ten years time?
• What do I want  my child's life to look like after I'm gone.

The NDIS gives us a great reason to think and look forward to the future. It is easy to get caught in the here and now, and the day to day struggle of living with disability.

I have written a pretty detailed plan of how I want my like to look like in three years for my joining the NDIS as a participant. However that what works for me, that may not suit you needs and if your writing goals for your child and your family you should talk to all family members.  What happens if one of the primary care gives gets sick or passes away?

Life will not stop because you now need to write your NDIS plan.  That why regardless of how you intend to manage you funding we are encouraging you to starting talking about the future.  The word goals is a fancy way of asking, what do you want your life to look like or what do you want to do?

So maybe its easier to talk about what do you want to do and how do you want to do it?

So if you or your child is a social butterfly and loves being involved in social activities, playing sports, days trips and gardening.  Is the day center their now attending or is their a better way to do things, will a change extend their social skills and independence.  Is this a good time or a bad time to introduce change.

These answers will be different for everyone and this is how support with become for individual.  So there is another choice you make along the way, do I stay with what I know works for us, or is there some thing better?

Do you know what's other there? Have you talked to others at your current provider?  Is it worth jumping online and reading what other services are available?

Part of the way out of the maze is to explore options, don't lock yourself in too soon.  Selecting your support services or employing your own staff is one of your last decisions.

So one goal we all share is to transition to the NDIS. So one of my NDIS goals is my transitional goal. Saying good bye to my current providers in the right way, as I want a smooth transition, I'd like my current support workers to do buddy shifts, so I need to ask for funding for transitioning.

What about costs?  How much can I spend?  I don't have that answer.  I do know you need to ask for costs like the training of new staff. A key to deciding ehat costs you need the NDIA to cover is deciding who you want your NDIS package to be administered. This is about you being in control of how and where your funding is spent.

Yes their is a lot of work to prepare for the transitioning to the NDIS, but laying a good foundation now can save work into the future.

Ways to administer your funding are:-

1. Ask the NDIA to pay for your supports on your behalf.  If you are currently receiving support this is how it works now. If this works well for you great! or
2. Chose a support host provider. This is like a broker they hold your funding and administer and pay for the supports you nominate to use.  The NDIA will cover a host providers fees. It is important to know your host provider can not provide any other supports on your behalf.
3. Use a host provider to self-direct your own support services. There are a few different models you can choose. Basically in terms of self-directing you can do as much or as little as you like in directing your support but the host provider will oversee and make payments on your behalf. or
4. You can apply for an Australian Business Number and set up your own small business and directly employ your own support team.  The NDIA will event pay for some training to help you do this.  There is lots to learn about the legal responsibility involved.

So there is lots to think about and to talk about with others before you make that appointment with your planner.  Here's some advice from Jack's mum.

Don’t go in unprepared

Don’t go to meetings alone

Read/listen to everything about the NDIS that you can (webinars, factsheets etc)

Go to any NDIS Information Sessions you can

Ask questions

Call the help line

Speak to other participants/families

Join a NDIS participant facebook group

Follow good Facebook pages like The Growing Space and InCharge

Learn the language: choice and control, goals and aspirations, reasonable and necessary, self-direction, self-management, service providers, support workers, support categories.

Feeling Overwhealmed by the NDIS

The NDIS 'What is the big deal?'

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme let me assure you, you're not alone. Nor should be endeavoring to tackle this change alone.  The NDIS is a new way to support people living with their disabilities and their families to live a valued life in the community in which the choose to live, Over the last two months I have been sharing my personal story and encouraging my readers to start planning their future under the NDIS.

The Great Unknown

Change creates fear and even through I am prepared and know how I want my life to look like, frankly their are days I think . . . how is this all going to work.  Most of us want to know what this NDIS looks like, to relive our fears.

I wish I had a crystal ball. The very concept at the center of the scheme is that packages will be tailored to the individual or families needs.  Your first reference point is the NDIS website. Part of our difficulty is that every state and territory has a different agreement with the federal government and information is still filtering down.

Whether your a service provider, a person with disability, a carer or guardian or a current employee in the sector were all facing uncertainly. So here's what I understand.   

The NDIS Revolution

Is this another change to the disability care sector? No way! We no longer have a disability care system. The NDIS will totally replace that system by 2020.  For many this is the first hurled, people with disability do not need to be 'protected' or 'care for.' People and families living with disabilities living with support can take control of their own needs. No one knows you needs or your son or daughter needs better than you. You don't need someone in a government department to tell you that.

So you NDIS plan is not about the participants disability or support hours, rather it is about putting the resources in place to allow you to live the way you want to live.  The NDIS plan does not ask you to put hours or services.  The NDIA will outline your approved package with you. Once you know this you have the freedom to shop for supports.

However you will need to make the administration of your package one of your NDIS goals.  So ok I can give you one of your goals a starting point.  Here are the ways you can select you funds to be administrated:

1. Ask the National Disability Insurance Agency to pay your supports for you.  This much the same as what happens now.
2. Choose a host provider to administer your funds on your behalf.
3. Self direct your funding through your host provider.
4. Self-manager your funding - you can chose the level of management you are confident at. I will be increase my level of management as I gain confidence levels and build relationships with my team. 

For each of these administration there are different costs attached. For example a host provider will change you administration costs. Since your funding has to be managed it is a necessary resources for the NDIA to fund.  So this will go into your support package.

I want to address what the NDIA refers to by supports, as this is a change you need to get your head around.  "Supports" are now used to refer to any things you need to achieve your goals, thus supports now include technological devices, mobility equipment, home and modification, therapies, accommodation, respite, in home support, support services, respite.  Transport support is now a transport allowance based on the level of hours you spend in the community.  This will be paid into you bank account. 

The NDIA are assuring that no one will be worst off in terms of supports under the NDIS, what this means is you will receive the 'level of support' that allows you to maintain at least your current level of support in the community. So the NDIA is looking for value for money.  If you currently need 2 workers to get out of bed and shower the might look at equipment so the only need to pay one worker, thus you are not losing 'hours' and not worst off.

The NDIA is keen to increase the level of independence people have in the community. Thus there is a significant push towards independent livening, assistance technology and employment. I see this as positive but not every one does. Lets face it no one like's change.  So yes some people will have a reduction in the no of support hours, but the package value must remain the same.

Goal Ordinated Support Packages

'Supports' or resources will be attached to each of your goals and how you want to achieve them.  Goals is a fancy way to say, the things you want to do, . . . going fishing, movies, play hockey, learn to cook, lawn bowls, study, find a job or move out of home.

However we want to see people with disabilities included in community life more and that why everyone is encouraging you to think outside the square and try new things.  We're not talking about doing this for the rest of you life, if your only 10 you don't want to attend school for the rest of you life.  The NDIA is encouraging people to write their first plan.  The cover the first 12 to 18 months under the NDIS.

So what should your goals be about:-

• Where you live and if you want to move
• School/study or training e.g life skills course
• Employment/volunteering or community work e.g. Help at lifeline 1 day a week.
• Social and fun times e.g. go camping or learn to paint\
• Health and fitness e.g. going swimming once a week
• Independence e.g. learn how to cook.

Goals aren't so scary when we break them down like that.

Do I have to write a NDIS goals participant plan?

Well . . . If you want to be supported by the NDIA, yes! The NDIA want to see all people with disabilities engaging in the community. Support are now attached to goals.  So if you life is about watching TV then I not sure the going to pay a worker to watch TV with you.

If you love life the way it is all you need to do is use the heading under the goals

It could look like this:

Goal 1: Keep living in my own home or with mum and dad.

Goal 2: Volunteer at library 1 day a week

Goal 3: Study computing skills

Goal 4: Play touch footy and go swimming twice a week.

Goal 5: Hang out with my mates at Kulb ALARA

Goal 6: Visit GOMA 4 Times a year

Goal 7: Have the NDIA pay my supports direct.

If this looks something like you do now. For each goal you need to tell the NDIA how you do or want to achieve that goal.

However, before you do that and lock in A can you go and see what other things are out there.  Ask your service provider if they will be offering different things under the NDIS or visit Fresh Futures Market on September 7 between 9 am and 1 pm @ Ipswich Show Grounds, and check out the many great services available in Ipswich. 

Lastly I hear people saying its a lot of work for people living in survival mode and I agree 100%.  However I remind myself if I want to live my best life it will be worth the hours.  Work I put in now should mean less work and changes latter. Said she who always asks for grant amendments.

 

Selecting Your Art Goals Under the NDIS

Art is different things to different people, so if you're thinking of making art a goal in your NDIS plan then you need to be specific as you can in writing your goal(s) to ensure you get the level of support you need.

Under the National Disability Insurance Scheme the type and level of support you receive will be determined by the goals you list in your plan. Some people are confused about word 'goals'. A goal is something you like doing or want to achieve.

Many artists I talk to tell me they would like to sell the artwork or making money through of sales of work.  This is a clear goal these people might like to list in their NDIS plan.  The National Disability Insurance Agency, also want to know 'how' or 'where' you are planning to sell your artwork.

There are a few ways people chose to sell their artwork, the most common way is through art competitions and exhibitions, however their are a number of ways to sell art on line or you might like to try an arts & craft market.

But not everyone wants to be a professional artist. Some people want to relax and enjoy art as a hobby.  Some people enjoy doing art alone others, like to enjoy the company of others while they create art or new art skills.

Similarly people want to learn art skills for different reasons. Some people want to learn art skills because they enjoy learning, or they just want to try new things, others want to train to be professional artists.

So why do you want to include art in your NDIS goals:

• I am a professional artist building my art practise so in my NDIS plan I list art as a self-employment. 
• However you may be employed by someone to teach art or you may work in an art gallery.
• Or you might not given much thought to you art and where you are heading. You might just want to coast along, learn some techniques, so you might ask for support to attend some community art class.
• The NDIA will also fund therapy. Art therapy is useful in working with children and adults with Autism and in my work with ArtISability I have seen individuals improve with their communication skills. So art therapy is something you might want to consider.
• There is a possibility that you really enjoy art as part of your social activities, so you might want to seek out a service provider who has an art based center program.

However I've only explored a few option and 'how' you achieve you art dream even if your in professional practise might look very different to my plan.  You might for example be into commercial art and looking for full-time employment.

Some tips about writing goals and the steps you intend to take to achieve them.

• A goal will have an outcome, Like a sale of your artwork.
• But a step may or may not heave an outcome. A step could be to attend university to study art to become a professional artists, or a step may be to produce a piece of art to sell.
• An outcome is measurable.  When you're holding a piece of artwork you created you know you've achieve your goal to paint a picture.
• If you goal is to enjoy art by attending a community art class, then your class attendance is you outcome.
• A goal is something you can achieve - if your goals if to learn how to tie-die and you have a piece of tie-die art in you hand, I would know you have achieved your goal.
• But if your goal is to learn more about art. I hard to know when you learnt enough about art.  'To learn more about art', might be your goal or a step on your way to achieve your goal, but to be supported by the NDIA to achieve that goal you might need to be more specific. "I want to learn more art skills related to drawing, and I will achieved that through doing a class at Brisbane Institute of art's Introduction to drawing class. " So they will know you need support to attend class.

However not all you goals you will want to achieve in the next year. You will have:-

• Long term goals - For me this is to have my artwork recognized by people living in Australian.
• Short term goals - Plan and produce artwork for my next two art exhibitions and enter some art competitions.
• Immediate goal - Is to start producing artwork for my next exhibition. (some people might list this as a step)

Someone asked me how many goals will the NDIA fund?  Very much that will depend what the goals are and how much resources they require from the NDIA.  Not all of my goals require support. For example writing my blog to market my art work. Yet because their in my business plan and some aspects of my business I need support like, transporting my artwork, writing my blog is part of my plan. (except I just put refer to business plan). The NDIA will want to ensure you know how to achieve your goals. If not they might suggest some training.

It is really had to give general advise on writing goals, even though I know the subject well.  You goals will depend on your level of experience or knowledge about art. I hope I given you enough information on how specific you NDIS goals need to be.

If you live in the Ipswich region and you like to discuss your goals for art and the NDIS, you can visit the ArtISability stand at the Fresh Futures Market in Wednesday 7th September between 9 am and 1 pm, @ the Ipswich Show Grounds on Warwick Road.

Art Options under the NDIS

The National Disability Insurance Scheme brings major changes to the way Australians living with disabilities and their families are support to live the lifestyle they chose. The cornerstone of the NDIS is increased participation in the community, through providing in home accommodation support, employment support, support at school, TAFE and university, support for community involve such as community work, sport and health & fitness; Support through equipment, home and car modifications; support to access early interventation programs and therapies.

The scheme is designed to support people to live their best lives through providing choice and options for managing your funding'

Where are you choices

• Set your own goals and determine your own outcomes.
• Decide where you want to live and know if you do move you can take your funding with you.
• Choose your service providers and where to purchase you equipment, or
• Design your own support system that will allow you to achieve the lifestyle you want to live.

Under the NDIS we no longer talk about your impairment to determine your support needs. Instead we talk about your goals. The things you like doing, the people you enjoy being with and new things you would like to try. Many people when discussing changes under the NDIS talk about changing providers, self-managing, getting the right supports, more support hours and setting off overseas.  In terms of the NDIS that's putting the horse before the cart.

Before you decide where you want to spend your NDIS package and how, you need to think about what you want out of life. To do that you might need to sit down with your family or support workers and talk about what your life is like now.  Decide what you want to keep in your life, like stay living with your family and what changes you might like.  You might like to find a job, or decide you like to get fit and get a job delivering junk mail to earn some extra cash.

There are probable more choices out there than you realise.  In Ipswich transferring to the NDIS is about 12 months away, that may sound like a long time, but if you and your family want to make the most of the NDIS, well you're a bit behind so now the time to start planning to live you best life.

Where to start?

Get off the coach or facebook and find out what's out there?  What types of services and other providers. If your thinking about joining a gym ask your support worker to help you visit a few. Pay for a few sessions, try it before you decide.

Do you know what clubs, sporting groups or organisations are operating in Ipswich?  Check out the visitors centre our ask your support person to help you look online.  Talk to your current provider ask if their services are likely to change under the NDIS? Ring another provider find out what they offer?  I think buy the time you've done that you've already found out there's a lot more to life than you thought.

Umm! Do you wish you could find all this information is the one place, while enjoying good food and entertainment at the same time?

Here's some good news!

The Ipswich community will be out inforce

on Wednesday 7th September 2016

Ipswich Showgrounds

From 9 am

to help you explore the world of opportunities

here in the heart in Ipswich.

So if funding is now attached to your selected goals how do you tell the NDIA what you need? The NDIA are not interested in what you need, they want to know what you would like to do with your life! What are your hopes and dreams for the future? If you could do anything what would that be? Once you decide what you would like to do, they want to know how you're going to do it?

So if your going to sell your artwork, they want to know how you plan to do this and what assistance you need to achieve that goal. This is go into your NDIS Goals Plan.

• Goals - What you want to do?
• Steps -  How you want to do it?

Example:

Goal:   To work at Coles

Step:    Find out if that is possible for you.  What do you need

            to know to work at Coles

Then they look at who in your life can help you achieve that goal and what support you will need. 

So here a tip!  If its not in your plan you will not be able to do it. So if you think art is part of your future it needs to go into your NDIS plan.  However, you can't just say I want to do art, that is a bit to general.

Goal Writing guidelines:

• Must be specific
• Must be clear and be understood by everyone. So they can give you the help you need.
• Must be measurable: how do you know when you've achieved your goal?
• Steps involve must be clearly identifiable

Art means a whole lot of different things to different people. People enjoy art for different reasons. Some people just want to visit art galleries to enjoy the beauty of art; some people want to do art because it relaxes them and makes them feel good; some people are just learning; some people are keen to try new forms of art; some people want to enter competitions like the Ipswich show, for some people art is a hobby and for others its work. . .

And sometimes . . . it is all of the above! The good news is no matter where you fit in the art continuum the NDIS can support you to do that, they just need you to tell them how to assist you.

Here's a few suggestions:

My goal:          To learn how to draw better, with pencil, ink,

                         charol and pastel.

Why:                Its just something I enjoy

Steps:               Join an art class to learn drawing skills.

This might be through a support provider, hiring a tutor or community classes. You need to let the NDIS know your preferred method.

Reasoning:         I've always enjoyed art and craft I'd like to do

                           more and learn new things.

My goals:           To learn more about art

                           To try new types of art

                           To learn art skills and make new friends

Methods:            Join a art and craft group

                           Take a art class

                           Do art with my current provider

                           Join the art and craft group a church

                           Start my own group

                           Find a tutor

Your step:          You'll need to tell the NDIA which step you

                           want to take.

Reasoning:              I have been doodling for awhile, I wonder

                                if my working is any good. I think I like

                                to do an art class or course,

My goal:                  To do an art course

Steps:                       To do one subject at a time with the

                                 assistance of a support worker.

My Goal:                 To sell my art work

My Steps:                 Make art work to sell

                                 Enter art competitions

                                 Plan an art exhibition

If you're coming to Fresh Futures Market, pick up a FREE copy of My Art, My Way, this will guide you through writing you plan and we hope to have it available for download soon.