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.

 

Creating a Brand

Branding, in my business development workshop on Friday, we looked at branding. Do I know what my customers are buying? Are they buying a piece of art or are they buying Deb Chilton's story.

What do I want them to buy? What am I really selling? What messages have I put out there when I've had my cranky pants on. If I like most visual artists am my brand name, then like it or not I am my brand.  Which makes me a public figure. So even 'my private' world is part of my brand.

However my work has so many dimensions to it. The reality is I have many brands I am trying to market, meaning I am doing an OK job, but since my work is not paying my bills I could do better.

I do like 'Coke' want to sell you the message, that opportunities don't just present themselves, we creative them. Sitting in your studio, creating a song, a dance or a painting, is not marketing you work. My 'art' will not sell sitting in my bottom draw or on my wall.

No will my message of embracing opportunities if I don't put it out there. I want part of my brand to be positivity! So being on social media when I not happy and battling my demons is not great. We all have a digital footprint, and once its published we can hide it but it will fail into the wrong hands and those who seek to destroy others may use it.

So I have things out there I wish weren't moving forward all I can do is be more aware of my brand Deb Chilton and put my best foot forward. So that's why I redesigned my blog.  I am selling me and my belief system,

"The way to change the world is one person at a time."

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.

Chasing Dreams

Enlisting NDIS to chase your dreams

Life is a gift to be embraced.  I intend sucking every last inch, breath, and experience out of it. Why would anyone chose to waste it chasing a animation that only exists on a mobile photo screen is beyond me.  "Stop chasing Pokémon, start chasing you dreams." Marlena May Katene

I first heard "Marlena "speak" in 2013 at a National Leaders Conference and she has inspired me to

'live' my life every since. In my mind I had put my travelling days behind me.  Why because I have epilepsy a few rounds and debates with Marlena destroyed that feeble excuse. I've not lost my spirit for adventure.

I just need to put a little more creative thought into my travels.  Marlena has shown me that life is an adventure and one I am now enjoying!

Marlena has two degrees, a journalist, author and owns and runs two business.  Her voice box does not work. She speaks with facilitator communication or an electronic communication device.  She is not defined or confined by her diagnoses. Marlena is a truly unqinc individual for a thirst and passion for living.

Searching for Pokémon is not something I ever imagine her doing. She is to busy, running businesses, attending rock consents and booking overseas adventures, She sees herself as the female version of Molly Meldrum and her mentors are Lane Beachly and Richard Bradson, Its depressing when I reflect on the number of people her age that live with hopelessness with no desire to work.

Marlena has no time for excuses, (although many in her position would use some), she lives the life of a celebrity.  Other people including me use excuses.  People fine work hard to fine. . . Marlena has inspires me to create work for myself and employ others,

My hope for the NDIS is people with disabilities will show their creative ability to work outside the Centrelink boxes and create employment.  I hope we see the biggest boost to productivity we've ever scene.  Not because we're employing support workers, but because we're developing and running empires.  Goals set to low soon lose their attraction. Shooting for the starts mean we may over shoot the mood.

When we limited ourselves we also limit others.  People want to know what happens when people with disability fail . . . Talking of failure before they start really signifies the lack of willingness to empower people with disability.  No one asks what happens when they shine?  I see people with disabilities shine all the time. Comedian Stella Young often spoke of disability prorn .  People being great because they are people with disabilities doing ordinary stuff, like getting out of bed.  How patronizing?

It is not the kind of attention I want. I want to be inspiring because my work is extraordinary - the best of the best.  Not a medico artists who has a disability.  If you want success you need to earn it.  Up at sunrise to set up markets and out networking until three in the morning.  Disability or not that is the hours it takes to run a business.  Winging about pay rates won't get you no where. 

I hope the NDIS and restrycturong of the industry sees more people 'living life' rather than exsisting. The key objective of the NDIS is to enable people with disabilities to fully participate in life. That means living in the community, being employed, training and study. spot and recreation, international travel and creating their own businesses. 

Under the NDIS we can be supported to chase our dreams or continue to allow our disabilities to define us.

"Stop chasing Pokémon, start chasing you dreams." Marlena May Katene

Creating Creative Communities

I don't believe buildings and structures are communities, but merely the geographical mark where a body of people live work and play. What makes a community is the transformation of people to create a passion for living.

Communities are born from people's desire to share there passion and challenge our thoughts through creativity. The poets, writers, authors, performers', actors and artists should be the people giving birth to a community. They are our geographical conscious. For a community to become a living identity, the essential ingredients are a heart and soul and I believe Ipswich has the beginners of both.  

Now is the time for us to embrace our creative soul and celebrate what makes us a rich city. From within Ipswich I hear murrs about the lack of community spirit and connections.

Yet as I network with poets, authors, artists from outside the Ipswich region, the question is what's in your water, Ipswich breeds creativity. Our city council is the envy of artists across Australian, as we share ideas of projects and ways to fund our concepts, I say have to talked to your local council?  What, yes of course, the have no interest in the arts. What I down here in Hobart, because my council is looking for ways to build its resources through our precious community resources, artists like myself.

Our library is the envy of authors around Australia, authors and illustrates see Ipswich as a mecca, descending on Marburg every two years, for the Children's Writer's Festival. Our annual poets breakfast, attracts poets form Moree, Gulgong and Charter Towers.

Entries for the QT Ipswich Art Awards and the Ipswich Poetry Feast Awards continue to grow. Some of our local councilors are artists in their own write. 

Cr Paul Tully and Cr David Phaikie use poetry to spar in Councils Chambers. My artist friends from outside the region are jealous when I take them up town.  I can wheel up the street and local business owners know me by name.  I owe my community for the amount of investment their given to a number of my creative passions. Outsides marvel at the relationships I have made. I endeavor to sow back everything my community has given me.

0I didn't just show-up in 2013 and have success with grants and become the successful artist I am. I am someone whose proud of my Ipswich Heritage, I live here by choice.  I both see and feel our creative soul and the challenge our artists give the community.

To those who deny our creative identity I challenge the role and the investment they have given my community. It's all very well to sit back and dissect the lack of support from those outside the arts, and feel frustration of not being able to sell our work. However the reality is being in business as an artists is not that different to any other business, it is as I shared yesterday, a labor of love, driven by passion to continue to invest in other artists lives.  I know my local community and they know me.

We don't need more buildings to cement our arts community, a building only clothes the creative soul.  The collective passion I share with local teachers, librarians, artists, performers, café owners and councils are here.  What you need to do is to walk out of your creative space periodically, and share in the richness of the Ipswich arts community.  It is here waiting for you to come and embrace it! 

My door is now open for business, but you'll have a better chance of catch me drinking coffee or doodling at art time.  I live in my community and my community spirit lives in me.

Hope to chat to you in person soon!

NDIS -Let's Go Shoppong

The power of Choice

Preparing for the NDIS is a little bit like writing a shopping list. We all have budget constraints, including participants of the NDIS. If you read yesterdays post, we talk about reasonable and necessary supports, in a sense these are the budget measures of your NDIS package.

However by now you know shopping for supports has been overhauled under the NDIS. You selection of support services will occur after your NDIS plan has been approved. May I suggest a little window shopping might be the way too proceed.

Your NDIS shopping list will be based on the resources allocated to you by the NDIA.  These resources will include:-

• Support hours
• Equipment
• Therapies
• Access to services
• Mobility Allowance

The budget you receive must be spent in the way it is set out in your NDIA service agreement.  This will be signed after you sign the service agreements with a support service or to self managed you own funds. Some resource will be paid for separate to the allocation of your package to pay for supports. Like your mobility allowance.  The way this is calculated has significantly changed too. The amount of your mobility allowance will be calculated on the hours of community participation you engage in per week.

What Can I Shop For

We are now seeing a major shift in the way participants are being supported in the community.  The NDIA is asking you to plug into life.  The don't want to pay workers for you to be inactive.  Of course they will continue to fund essential in home support. 

Support and resources are now linked to each of your nominated NDIS support goals. So if goals and steps are not outlined on you plan you will not be able to shop for those supports.  We have seen the NDIA will be only providing reasonable and necessary supports that are directly relate to enhance you life due to impairments related to your disability.

The way I explain that is if you have a goal to train as an actor, the NDIA will not pay for the expenses of your training. Any class you need to undertake you need to pay for just like any other trainee in your class.  However if you need a wheelchair, communication device or personal care to undertake your training then these are the reasonable and necessary supports the NDIA is talking about.

So what's not covered

• Any support related to goals not contain in your support plan.
• Any goals that can not be provided under best practise.  That's my learning to drive example for those who been following my blog.
• Any supports that do not support you or a family member to engage in the community.
• Any supports that the NDIA does not see as 'value for money'. Some times they will op for a piece of equipment or making your environment more accessible rather than support hours. The NDIA is looking at you becoming as independent as possible.
• Any expense incurred in obtaining your goal that is not a result of your impairments. If you are studying art this may be course fees, books and art supplies.
• Any service that is freely available in the community or provided by other government departments such as Medicare.

So as you can see knowing what you want (or your goals) and how you want to achieve it (the steps) and the supports you will need (resources) are important in writing your NDIS goals and you participant statement.

The better prepare you and your family or any other person you'd like to support you in the transition process are when you meet or speak to the planner, the more productive your session will be. This includes being prepare emotionally. 

Any change is scary and the results unknown. Thousands of Australians are embracing on the same journey as you and/or your family. It could be really helpful to talk to you peers and support each other.  You might be able to go NDIS shopping together!

Sharing information with others can impower them and if you share resources you might save time. It is equally important to grieve the past and for lost opportunities. That pain has been part of your journey until now, not to acknowledge and accept the NDIS is a new start could hold you back.  You don't want your time with the planner to be stalled by the emotions from the past.  To do this you might see a counsellor, have a family meeting or ask some from your current provider to assist. 

Also you want to ensure everyone who you have invited to your planning meeting is on the same page and they understand the goals you have chose and the steps you intend to take to achieve them.

One thing to keep in mind when writing your goals is the NDIA has a credit limit so if you have 25 goals in your plan they may ask you to list them in priorities. Before you start shopping there on more thing to add to you resources and that is the costs related to the administration of your package, this too may alter your shopping list you may need to shop for a host provider or you may need to recruit your own staff.  Here's a quick overview. 

Cost of Administering your funds

Shopping Options

• The NDIA can pay your supports on your behalf. This is much like what happens with Disabilities Services now, except you'll be telling them who pay. You can not use this option if you are self-managing.
• If you are self-directing your funding then you may wish to shop for a host provider. A host provider will hold your funds on your behalf and administer them as directed by you. They will keep a record of spending, pay your bills, and assist with the reporting requirements for the NDIS.  The will charge an administration fee for this, which the NDIA will calculate into your package total.  Which is why how your funding is to be administrate is part of your goal plan.
• You may like to manage your own funding.  Essentially there are two choices: (a) Administration of your funding (accounting and reporting requirements) to buy services and supports. or (b) Administration of funds through directly employing your own support team. Choosing this option means you are electing to set-up your own business and thus become an employer. This means you are also responsible for all responsibility as an employer:- insurances, police checks, safety audits, work health and safety and ongoing staff training, if your interested in this option the NDIA may assist you with some training, so you need to add that to your shopping list.
• Or you can use a combination of administration tools. I am really keen to self-direct and eventually self-managed as I am already a small business owner, given my work commitments I have decided to easy myself into the new role. Allowing me to test my skills and up skill where needed.

Writing your shopping list for the NDIA

Although it is your choice where to spend you NDIS package, you  need to tell the NDIA what you are shopping for. As we have seen this will be determined by your goals.

So for some people this seems like a big hassle for little result. I certainly hope that is not the case for you. The NDIS is designed specifically to enable you to live your best life. Having said that if you happy with life you can chose to keep things as the are now. Provide you can articulate that in a format that suits the NDIA.

Keeping in mind that any goals you choose need to fit the NDIA reasonable and necessary support criteria. My suggested goal areas or dreams to start you thinking are:- Lifestyle - am I living where I want to live; work; learning, training (including preparing to self-managed training) and independent living skills or life skills; sport, health & fitness; hobbies and community groups and clubs.

If you think your happy with your life as it is: try drawing up some boxes and dividing your activities into my suggested goal areas, if your keen to do a little dreaming you could add a box and call it my dreams - that's where a overseas trip or moving out of home might go.

However making choices for the first time can be scary. To make choices we need to know the options. If you been doing the same thing since high school and mum and dad helped you make those choices, do you know and understand what choices other support services are offering.  Do you know what is offered in your local community?

Visiting other service providers, checking our their programs; visiting the tourist centre or local council to find out different groups,  visit a travel agent and grab some broaches, talk to other clients ask them what their thinking about doing; talk to your current provider make sure you understand what they have to offer.

The NDIS also means many changes for service providers will be transforming to offering differ things in different ways, so you might like to know if the choices your current provider may change under the NDIS.

The New Market Place

The NDIS will allow you to purchase your own services and equipment. So you will want to start taking a good poke round the market. Service providers will now need to advise and package their services.  So if your hoping to escape making any changes you might want to make sure those services will still be on the market under the NDIS.

As I explained choosing your service provider will be the last thing you do before you sign your agreement with the NDIA. However, it never too early to start your shopping list.  It may change and evolve over time. The more you understand the market place and the options available to you. The more you will be empowered to live your best life under the NDIS.

Happy shopping! 

My NDIS Plan and Art My Way!

My Art, My Way

Many will disagree with me . . . but when it come to art their is no right way. People enter into art for different reasons. When it comes to the NDIS your way is 100% the right way to go.

. . . So why include art in your NDIS plan?  # 1 if its not in your plan the NDIS will not fund support to enable you to work on that goal.  The NDIS is a complete game changer.  The NDIS is designed to enable people with disabilities to engage in the local community in a way they chose. For some that may include the process of making art.

Any art form is open to the interruption from the audience.

People will embark on an art journey for many difference reasons. For some people like me, my life revolves around art and embodies who I am as a person. For others are is a hobby or recreation the brings a sense of pride and therapy. For others art becomes a profession and their life's work.

Ipswich Community Acknowledging

my contribution to the arts.

The first thing the NDIS participant statement gives you in the opportunity to tell your story as it is now and give a little insight into any changes you might like for the way you are supported under the NDIS. The odds are the NDIA planer, will have no insight to what your day to day life looks like now, and will probable know very little about art.

Your participants statement is going to be the first clue to what role art plays in your life currently.  Remember my no right or wrong rule, how you tell your story to the NDIA is  up to you.  However if talking and writing is not your thing then a video of your daily life might help.

So if there is little or nothing about art in your participant's statement, that might tell me its either a hobby or something new you want to have a go at, if it is listed as one of your NDIS first plan goals. As your writing your goals I suggest you look at  goal areas first.

One thing you want to achieve is a funnel effect.  Not only is the NDIS plan about you goals, but the steps and assistance you will need to achieve your goals. For some goals you may not need any assistance for others you will.

If your goal is to paint a basket of apples just to relax and take time out, then you many not need help to achieve you goal.  Or you may need help to set up your paints.  So every one's NDIS goals plan will look very different.

Goal areas might include:-

• Lifestyle and accommodation - You might be thinking about adding a home art studio or teaching from home.
• Learning, study or training - You might have been scribbling at home for years and decide you'd like to do some art classes or go to university.
• Work and community life - Like me you might decide art may be a sector you'd like to work in.  Or you might be ready to exhibit and sell your work.
• Interest and hobbies - You might just find you enjoy art. If could be something you like to spend time doing with others. Or out sitting by a lake somewhere.
• Art as therapy - many people find making art a healing process, or art may give expression to emotions they not been able to voice before.

So the process we've taken is a broad general topic "Art", so Art is not going to be a goal in itself.  We look at examples of goals, to draw a basket of apples and what support you may need to achieve that goal. In terms of your NDIS goals your looking at goals or steps that will take 12 months to achieve. So drawing a basket of apples probably wont make your NDIS plan.

But joining an art class to learn how to draw might be something you like to try. Other people are not so sure. I might like art, I might not.  Could I join an art group and just see?  Yep! That is fine - that NDIS is geared to allow you to try new things . . . And its ok to go back and say - this isn't working for me.  Goals change over time, I haven't always wanted to be an artists.

Initially I wanted to be a poet!

I still write poetry but its now more of a hobby.

Having decided your goals the NDIA asks how you want to achieve them, as this about Your Art, Your Way! Lets use the goal of I want to sell me art & make money?

This is a good goal for an NDIS plan because:-

• It is clear
• It is achievable
• When you sell your work you have achieved your goal.

The Process: So how do you achieve this?

Well I guess I could set up on the street corner and put 'Art For Sale', but the council might move you on and issue you a fine.  Actually that is something to remember when setting goals and making choices, all choices have conquences, you need to obey the law when choosing how to achieve your goals.  So I would recommend stealing your art supplies.

Legal ways to sell your art include: markets, competitions, exhibitions or on line options.  It important to know regards of how you chose to sell your art, you need to invest money.  So the first step might be to figure out how you going to find the money.

For my last exhibition I was able to pay it in stallements. But that was the fourth time I'd hired the gallery and as the gallery is attached to the art shop so the own sees me quiet regularly, you may need to save up before you hire a gallery, or consider selling your work from home.  Art markets have fees and you need to have public liability insurance.  So you might be selling art for a few years before you achieve your NDIA goal to make money.  

Now we see with choice responsibilities and costs are involved these are all things you need to factor in to the steps you will take to achieve your goal.  Your plan will need to demonstrate you can achieve your goals if you are supported the write way.

Well there some things to get you started creating art your way.

Social Maping

Community Connections Program

I thought I'd share something of the importance of Social Mapping. Now let's be clear here, I not talking about the latest craze to sweep Australia. Planting and searching for a virtual Pokémon in real streets. I taking about creating a map of your daily social interactions and network on paper.

There are many reasons you might consider to record your social map. Including: a business development plan, funding for an arts project, research purposes, scouring support for arts project, writing your NDIS participant plan.

As you know the National Disability Insurance Agency talks about formal (paid) and informal supports (unpaid). I think in terms of your NDIS planning and goal setting, mapping you support networks might be very helpful.  It can provide you with a clear picture of who you spend time with and the activities you do. It may provide clues to who to invite to have input and support you to write your NDIS goals.

Ipswich Poet's Breakfast

part of my informal support network.

Your NDIS package will be calculated on the formal support you need to achieve your goals. This is the new way to decide what your package should look like and gives you more choice and control of your lifestyle. Remember these goals may centre around work, study, things you enjoy, lifestyle, accommodation options, gaining life skills, social activities and sports.  These are activities that help you enjoy life the way, you chose.

For most of us writing goals is a new thing, but I think it sounds harder than it is, although its taking me a few false starts! Social mapping was something I found helpful when I started writing my goals and think about how I might achieve them.

A goal might be to buy a pet cat or to keep your pet cat alive; or you might like to learn to dance.  Now the NDIA will not buy you a cat, but they might give you support hours to help look after it.  The NDIA will only provide supports that are relevant to your disability.  So they might buy an assistance dog if that will help you be more independent.

Informal supports might include:-

1. Family
2. Friends
3. Neighbours
4. People who you attend school supports with
5. housemates
6. Team mates
7. People you work with
8. The postman

These are people you spend time with each day.

Question: Do you enjoy what you do and the people you spend time with? Or would you like to change things or try something new.  The change over and transition to the NIDS is a great opportunity to do this. However some people are happy with life now, they don't want the change that the NDIS invites. 

That is ok!  It is your choice to keep life the way it is - is your right.  However you still a way to express that to the NDIA and putting your lifestyle in a plan, the reflect your goals. Mapping your social networks maybe helpful in starting this process.

It may provides ideas to lay out your current life into goal areas, such as learn new skills, team sports, social activities and heathy living,

NDIS Arrives

The NDIS Arrives!

I sit here full of mixed emotions, form today the National Disability Insurance Scheme rolls out over the next three years. A scheme that acknowledges like all Australians people with disabilities are individuals and thus deserve individual tailored support to achieve their goals and aspirations. Support beyond what we need to survive.

For me that means support to extend my arts practise. A pipe dream eight years ago, a reality in 12 months time.  . . Only 12 to 18 months to hang in there.

Pride . . . I am proud of every person who stood up and said I COUNT! I have the same rights to access housing, employment, education, entertainment, sport and culture as everyone else in Australia. We call for the UN international humane rights laws to be up held. We call for the right to make decisions and choices for ourselves. We call to control our funding, not the government or services.

Our fight for our dreams and rights is not over (sadness), we now have to reshape our thinking and the thinking of others, while filling in more forms and getting our heads around a hold new would . . . while continuing to survive. The big day is bitter sweet.

Exhaustion while hanging in added my NDIS training needs.  Writing and rewriting plans. 

I chose to feel pride in the 100.000 of individuals who worked eight years to make life changing options a reality. A group of Australian citizens viewed as less than equals, incapable of decision making, decimated against in the workforce and segregation from community still occurs, tested our demonotartic power and birth a better way to do disability care.

With laws passed and new battle field emerges to educate general public and change historical views and perceptions. Bitter / sweet the war won . . . but the battle continues.

I STOOD UP

TO BE COUNTED!