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.

Chasing Deams

Ready to go!

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is rolling out across Australia are you ready to roll with it? Or are your fearing change and digging your heals in.  The changes under NDIS mean you will now be supported to do the things you like to do!  The NDIA refers to these as goals. As people with disabilities transfer to assistance under the NDIS they are asked to supply a list of goals.

Goals can be written around what you enjoy doing, the things your doing now (good I want to keep producing art) and want to keep doing or you might decide to do something new like jet skiing. All of us are different and we all want different things in life. If you boil down all the talk about NDIS it comes down to one thing . . . What do you want your life to look like.

The power and decision making is in your control, not the NDIA, not your service provider, and not your support workers. You will be able to chose your provider and the types of supports you want. If your advenious and good at finances you can employ your own support staff.

No! If you happy with how life looks now you do not need to change your supports. What you do need to explain to the NDIA is how you current support assist you to do what you do now. But, whether you happy with life now, or you want to be daring and spice your life up or just become a little more independent you still need to develop a NDIS plan.

The NDIA will want to know your thoughts around you network system and what supports you have now.  Are you happy with your accommodations or would you like to move? Do you work or study or would you like to? What are your hobbies and interests? If you go horse riding now do you want to keep doing that or try something new like rock 'n' roll dancing?

Getting ready for the NDIS and starting to write your NDIS begins about answering questions like these and putting them on paper. Your NDIS goals are not:-

• About your disability
• About what you can't do
• About the support you need
• About hours
• Who will support you.

That is the old way of thinking about how to provide your support. These are the things you will determine as you decide how you want to achieve your goals. Do you want to study online or do you want one on one support to attend classes on campus. Under the NDIS two people might have the same thing they want to do, but the way they do it might look very different.

The new concept is to look at how your package can enable you to live a great life and participate in the community through studying, working, attending day programs, volunteering, travelling with friends, moving out of home or learning new ways of communication.

You should know the NDIA has to objectives:-

1. To enable you to become independent as you can; and
2. assist you to engage in the life or the community.

Once the NDIA know your goals they want to know how you want to achieve them.  If you want no changes its ok to say that.  The NDIA must provide supports that are reasonable and necessary to enable to achieve your goals.

So if you can't walk or need a assistance to get out of bed and your goal is to play basketball for Australian then they must provide you with a wheelchair and personal care assistance to get ready for training. You might ask for a support worker who also likes sport and might be able to support you in the gym.  

So the NDIA are happy to consider new ways or new technologies to enable you to live your life. Which is why no one is discussing this like no of hours.  You might find using an assistance dog, might increase your independence so you need less one on one assistance from a worker.

Naturally I am using simplifty examples to start you thinking and maybe even dreaming of what your life will involve under the NDIS. Today I just want you to start.  Maybe that's a list of your current activities, draw you a week time table and write all the things you do in a week.  Then make 3 columns, list your activities then tick in or out!

Now you have a list of activities that can become your 2017 or 2018 goals.

The next step is to circle any activities you want to keep but you think you might want to change hour you do that activity or with who you do the activity/  Don't think about how for now. You might want to talk to some other people first or you might like time to explore new possibilities.  Yep! I reconk it be a good idea you ask people like mum and dad or your support workers to help you to find new ways to do things or new things to do!

This is what we mean about getting ready.  My goals I've tucked a way for a few months, I look at them again before the end of the year, I might want to change them or find I forgot about learning Chi Tai.

Not sure where to start?  The start by making lists, the NDIS is coming and now is the time to think about what that might look like for you.

Grow your business

Yesterday I attended a Business Development workshop for artists. I think many artists forget that the quest to sell their artwork is a small business, and the essence to building any business is a Build Plan. My dad gave me a tip,  Deb artwork won't sell sitting in your lounge room! The main point of sale for a visual artists is a art gallery. 

So my first goal was to get my art out there!

Coming out!

"Fish tales - Arttime Coffee Shop"

Outlay $40 for wall / income $40

This was followed by

Paw Prints

Drawing Point Gallery

Made a loss

Then . . .

Made a profit!

Getting the local paper to do a story

went viral!

Papers across the Southeast picked up my story

And sale of merchandise assisted

This idea I picked up from working with other artists

and I now sell work online

I also take opportunities as they present.

But I still have no business plan for my

over arching brand!

Deb Chilton

What potential income and I losing out on.

What is my brand?

Is it Deb Chilton, Doodles and Dribble,

ArtISability or Ignite Artists?

Do I give equal time to all products?

Have I tested the market or am I just guessing?

Do I know the opportunities I am missing?

Umm! Having a business plan for Ignite Artists is

not enough!

I need a business plan for my brand

Deb Chilton

and each brand covered by my ABN!

I do somethings exceptionally well

like networking!

Others like a sales straggy have

not hit my radar.

OK I am off to write my business plan.

What is disabilty?

With the National Disability Insurance Scheme rolling out across Australia I thought it be good to open a discussion on "what is disability?"

I guess one thing I want to say is people with disabilities are individuals and two people with the same diagnose, lives can look very different. Other social environmental factors can play a huge impact on the level a person of family living with disability can participate in community life, 

I feel this is where sterotypes can come unstuck.  The dictionary defines disability as an impairment that affects a persons ability to function in the 'normal manner' . This might be a physical impairment, intellectual impairment; behavioural problem; cognitive difficulties or physlogical. Just to complicate things further many people with disabilities have a more than one type of disability referred to as, complex disability.

I just want to address what I mean by "environmental influences", for me these are things like parentage; cultural heritage, access to education, experiences in the rehabilitation process, and the community in which we live. I also think a person's ability to function is influenced by personality.

So for me the NDIS is an admission that people with disabilities don't kick nice boxes, hence an individual approach to support. Disability does not impact on a person's emotional responses nor the hopes and dreams we have. Regardless of who we are we all have aspirations, sometimes their realistic and others their not.  I think I'm finally accepted I might never be a millionaire.

Yes, under the NDIS some people are going to have unrealistic goals, like becoming a millionaire.  However, dreams in themselves are not dangerous.  I had dream once to be an author, my parents thought I was mislead, before I wrote 4 books. Every now again we underestimate others.

My difficulty and that of others living with disability is until now the disability sector has operate from a 'care' or 'medical' model.  Unlike a medical patient we don't need fixing, yet that is the way I am treated by some 'carers' or 'support workers'.  Just because I can't do a button up, doesn't make me no good at art.

Art is a talent that even most able people don't lay claim too. Just like people with disabilities, your beliefs and perceptions around disability are a bi-product of your environment. For example my silbings and their children grew up with physical disability, as I and some of my friends had disabilities, the idea we belonged in separate schools and emotionally detached was foreign to them.

Just as some peoples level of awareness on disabilities leaves them to conclude I couldn't live independently. However some assumption for me don't add up.  If you were to lose you voice to cancer your intellectual ability would not change.  Yet it is usually assumed people who are non-verbal are less intelligent.

Often people assume I am also intellectually disabled.  The facts are cerebral palsy is a physical disability and those who also have intellectual disability have a dual-diagnose. More the 70% of people with CP have no intellectual impairment.

Another huge misconception is people who are intellectual impaired are child like.  Some are but most are wanting to have adult lives, including getting married and having children!

It has become our natural instinct to protect and caring for those living with disability. Society clearly said we are less fortunate. That is a perception, not a fact. My life pretty much looks the same as any other artists. Too often this had lead to low expectations for children and adults living with disabilities.

My time at CATS inc, really challenged my own expectations as time and time again I had set the bar too low. When trying to address community attitudes to disabilities, I feel challenged as so many factors influence our thinking on the issue. I can not even name every disability, let alone address your multiple questions.

My hope for the NDIS that it starts a monument in thinking of people living with disabilities as "one of us".  That people are seen for their abilities rather than their disabilities and the community as a whole will step back and let us have a go at things.

Recently I had a change of thinking, attitudes extend to ways and their are people with disability that take everything personally, and refuse to meet the community half-way.  You either want to be treated as an equal or you are happy to have people feel sorry for you. You can't have it both ways.

You either accept our city was not built for wheelchairs and seek solutions or you don't go out because a footpath are to dangerous. 

Personally people treating me as if I am a 10 year old sucks. Really, its there issue, I can not change they way they think and I do not want to let them rob me of the chance to live my best live.

If I challenge one or two people thoughts great. Try to correct many centuries of myths around all disability, well that's a pipe dream and it isn't going happen.  So I hope I started one on many conversations we need to have as Ipswich prepares for the arrival of the NDIS.

Change is scary!

Any physiologist will tell you a major life changing event is stressful. Even positive life changes like having a baby is stressful. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was designed to be the single biggest change to the sector since its introduction. If everything seems back to front that is because it is.

The way you are supported under the NDIS is flipping the sector upside down. The current 'care model' of the sector is inconsistent with many things we now know about disability are incorrect. The NDIS hopes to right the wrongs and enable people living with disability to actively participate in life.  Or to live their best life.

The scary things is no one yet knows what that look likes.  How do you go from a system of 'care' to empowering people to have choice and control. 

So what do I understand the transition to be.  Firstly the NDIS is a participant scheme, where those affected by disability are actively determining here plans and given chose around how the their funds are administered.

At the same time we know the definition of "supports" will change. Currently most of us think of support in terms of hours and programs.  The NDIA doesn't talk about this when you submit your plan and I struggle with this change. "Supports" now include the individual support we are accustomed too; some support programs as we know them; equipment and technology - we know their is a push towards greater independence and life long outcomes for people; inclusion of therapies and transport assistance; and training to enable you to manage your own funding.

The NDIA also talks about 'formal' and 'informal support, for those under the "Growing Stronger System", this is not new language. However it creates fear will I be forced to use informal supports or generic services. I do not believe so.  Everyone in the community uses informal supports, this is another way to highlight how the NDIS encourages the participant to use their informal networks.  If you've read any of our ArtISability newsletters you will have scene how I imagine this to work.

We have been assured that no Queenslander will be worst off under the NDIS.  However this may not mean you have the same no. of hours. The NDIA are looking for better ways to achieve outcomes. I know this is a sore point, but for some that involves moving out for home, because parents and carers can not do their job forever. So the NDIS is very much about preparing for the future. Having said this moving out of home may be a long term goal.

I expect under the NDIS your supports, your hours and the way you are support will look different to now. As you know your NDIS plan is centred around goals, not supports. The means the NDIA wants to know what you think your best live could look like? A goal is something you want to do or achieve.

• Loss weight
• Join a football team
• Move out of home
• Find work
• Sell your art
• Learn to draw

Not every participant will want to be a movie star; climb a mountain, or be the Queensland Representative for Supported Art Studio, although I hear oversea travel is high on agendas.  This maybe because its become a everyday thing for Aussies to do. Where possible the NDIA want participants lives to reflect those of their community peers.

So where's the protection for vulomable people? Personally I do not think participants need the level of duty of care that now exists. However protections were remain.

• Goals must be lawful
• The NDIA will not approve goals putting us at risk
• Service providers still will be audited
• Support staff need to have police checks even when directly employed by families.
• Families who self-manager need to report each quarter and be subject to audits.

The NDIS is not throwing out the law book. Polices and procedures remain. 

We are natural fearful because we can not fully visualise how the changes will look.