Towards a bright tomorrow

 



 

The open of the National Disability Insurance Agency Ipswich Area office this week singles an end of a medical care model of support.  Support under the NDIS is based on the hopes and dreams of people with disabilities, their carers, families and supporters. It recognises not two people are the same and just as we choose our own pathways they people with disabilities have that same right. 

 

Some will choose centred based programs and others will opt for individual styled supports. Supports are now around your goals. If you want to learn to be more independent and catch public transport by yourself then support could be around traveling on transport to gain you independence. 

 

 

 

 Support under the NDIS should be about your lifestyle and the activities you and your family want to enjoy.  One of my goals is not to have the leave the opening of my next art exhibition because supports ends at 8pm.

 

Many people believe we will be looking for bells and whistles support.  Myself,  I just want to stop playing Cinderella.

 

At the opening I had the opportunity to share what my like looks like now, and the juggling act of accessing 4 services to provide my daily direct support needs like personal care, meal preparation and transport.  Each service has its own policies and procedures, finish by 8pm so we're not paying higher rates of pay or be unable to travel in staff cars.  Life gets confusing.

 

When a service needs to change a time... umm is it week one or two or I am simply wanting to make an appointment, life gets complicated. Not only am I not in control, most service rely on a roster team for smooth delivery of services, people who often don't know me Some tell me about changes others don't.

 

The NDIS gives me control to chose who will deliver what service, workers of choice and what time service will be delivered. For me the NDIS is not about bells and whistles it about my right to live a life reflective of my peers.  My peers are artists and we don't work 9 to 5.  We start work as others head home or to our openings or workshops.

 

   

Us creative misfits are initial to be supported in our roles.  What a waste of talent if we are not supported in the right way.  Here's some of the work from our mini exhibition at the NDIS office.

 

 

NDIS Office Open for business

On 26 May, participants began transitioning to being supported by the NDIS in Ipswich.  I was privileged to speak at the official opening on Wednesday.

Above I am photographed the area coordinator Fran Vicary and Peter Tully from Queensland Disability Network/ Able Australia/ Disability Community Awareness.

The opening and open day focused on ability not disability. With members of the Ipswich Art Community hosting an exhibition. What a great success!

 

Achieving Sales

I was able to share about life . . . with 16 support works with 4 services, with 4 different sets of policies and procedures. How's your maths? 

That's right more than one per day and someday's there are 3 different staff from 3 different services.  Mostly I remember who is knocking at my door.  That is . . . if all goes according to plan and we all know life never conforms to our plans.

Right now life feels beyond control with not all support workers wanting to follow support plans I help developed.  I still cringe at being classed as 'less fortunate' - maybe one day we will stop labelling people. 
 
We are Australians and we all count.  Today, I was empowered to say NO NEW SUPPORT WORKERS.  16 is more than enough.  I am eagerly antispatipating the day 16 becomes 6 or less.  

the day when I will transition to the NDIS.  Meanwhile my bank account got a boost too!

I look forward to sharing more with my ndis journey with you.

What drives me

Community Living

What is involved in Community Living?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme or NDIS is more than a change in the way people with disabilities for their support needs, such as personal care and community access.  It is a scheme for all Australians to ensure the rights of people living with disabilities are upheld.  Ideally the NDIS seeks in increase the social and economic participation in their local community.

What does this mean and how can it be achieve? The United Nations has been concerned for some time that people living with disabilities do not have equal access to all areas of their communities due to barriers that have been established by the way communities are established and function.

Transforming Community Access
under the NDIS.

 

Traditionally in terms of disabilities the barriers that come to mind are stair cases, parking spaces and physical access to amenities. Yet barriers that are as equally isolating are access to communication, education, employment, information, technology and the justice system.  Many of the barriers exist due to our current lack of knowledge about disability and the barriers imposed by a community (unknowingly).

Disability is a term commonly referred to as an individual who has an impairment that may become disabling due to the way a community is structured.  The school system is one aspect of community life that can disable people living with impairments. Impairments may be physical meaning the buildings themselves pose a barrier; intellectual meaning not everyone can participate in the same way and at the same rate;   behavioural or sensory meaning traditional classroom structures prevent some children from learning in a manner suited to their own needs.

 

 

The presence of a certain types of impartments does not mean a child cannot learn nor does it result in a reduction of comprehension level.  What limits these individuals is the communities adopts of norms and a blank one size fits approach to most of the systems that allow society and therefore or communities to operate.

Disability is not about an individual but the community.  Working towards the protection of human rights for all Australians, not just those who fit the majority means challenging that way our communities are govern by norms, that until now have been based on misconceptions; such a individuals with learning and intellectual disabilities are ‘childlike’, unable to learn and have very limited comprehension.  Often it is asked ‘what is there metal age? A hypnotical number not holding much relevance in a mature community that values a person as individual,

 

Restructuring a community to assist with the building of inclusion, means we need to recognised that communities are not made from streets of houses, buildings and public places. Community is a living organism that changes and emerges overtimes.  Inclusion does not involve the rebuilding or real estate, it involves the restructure social norms, values and beliefs we now know are based on myths.

Establishing an inclusive community can only occur where communities are willing to grow together and excise an attitude of listening and learning how to work and play together.  The only way equality for individuals living with disabilities can be achieved is restructuring our systems to suit the needs of all members of our community.

As individuals we may be impaired but collectively we continue to disable each other.  I am asking you to see the NDIS as an opportunity for member of our community to learn from each other and to grow into an inclusive community that is second to none.

    

The Work of Ignite Artists Network

 

What's been happening?

 

 

New Partnerships

 

Recently we have been supporting FOCAL Community Living and management at Ipswich City Square at the Friday Night Twilight Markets offering a chance for folk to try new art forms and mediums.

 

 

 

The creation of this new market space presence has opened a number of new opportunities for our growing network. . .

 

 

 

In March we commenced a new art group for residents in Redbank. This group meets of Fridays night to catch-up with friends and enjoy being creative.

 

 

Here's their first finished works of art. Thanks to our friends at Ipswich Pottery Supplies for joining us last week.  This is a group brimming with ideas... Watch this space for there progress.

 

 

 

 

Welcome aboard to our new partners PickUp Australia. This is a new transport company meeting the access needs of people living with disability. Recently the began operating in Ipswich and I took a short test drive.  PickUp with be sponsoring a number of arts events to assist in building an inclusive arts communities.

 

 

FUNDING

 

Recent funding applications were unsuccessful. We are currently operating in a user pays system,  group bookings and individual mentorships are available.  We are continuing to apply for funds and we are working towards becoming an NDIS provider.

 

M A R K E T     N E W S

 

 

We are currently on move

 

Join Booval Fair Twilight Markets on Saturday Nights 5 pm to 9 pm as they introduce there new interactive arts and craft section. We will be at the Markets on 22nd and 29th April and 13th May. You can be part of activities by donation.  Simply pay us what you think the activity is work.  Some come down and have dinner with us and get creative. At the end of this time we will assess our options.

 

 

 

We will also be visiting the Railway Workshop Museums Twilight Markets at North Ipswich on the 21st April.

 

National Disability Insurance Scheme Update

 

Ipswich goes online with the ndis on July 1. The ndis is the new way people with disabilities and there families will be supported to best participate in their local communities and beyond.  If you currently are supported through the department of communities you will be contacted and you should be working on you ndis plan your current provider can assist you with this, but the ndis also will send you a template. 

 

Other people with disabilities should check their eligibility on the ndis website. 

 

 

 

Ipswich NDIS: Hopes and Dreams

 

Writing you first plan

 

Your support needs will now be determined by what you what your life to look like; the things you want to do and new things you might like to try.  The National Disability Agency calls these you goals.  The ndis will provide all necessary supports, so you don't need to list getting out of bed in the morning.  These supports are referred to as core supports.  So your plan is not about what you can't do, but the things you want to do and how!

 

Things to tell the NDIA:

 

• What life looks like now: where you live; family, activities and current supports. (Including transport assistance; communication assistance and all equipment as these are now covered in your NDIS package.)
• Any changes you want to make like accommodation; education and increased independence.
• How you want you funding package to be managed. See the website for your options.
•  

Offering You More Choices

 

For now don't worry about what services to use or how many hours you need. Focus on how you want your life to look. What are your hopes and dreams and how can you make them happen?

 

Be specific - don't put I would like to art.  Tell them what art is to you.  Enjoyment, hobby, work or do you want to sell your art. The tell them the activities this will involve.  Like joining an art group or hosting your own art exhibition.

 

When in doubt ask somebody to help you and talk to other people for ideas.

 

You can keep up to date with our activities on Facebook

 

 

 

Purple Day 2017

Planting Purple Seeds

 

Deb Chilton - Artists takes the Purple Day Pledge

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am among the 30% of people living with epilepsy whose seizures are not effectively controlled through surgery or with medication.  Epilepsy is the world's most common neurological disorder yet strong social stigma's around suffers still exist. With many choosing to live in isolation.

 

Life is what it is!

 

We can chose to embrace it and live a life of hope, promoting understanding or we can be controlled by our fears.  Living life promotes under standing,

 

 

The themes for my Planting Purple Seeds Exhibition were . . .

 

Live life . . .

 

       Love . . .

 

             Grow , , ,

 

 

                               Hope . . .

 

Growing seeds of understanding . . .

 

Flowers are witness to the way we grow, often we need to make a decision to let go of fear and the what ifs . . . and embrace life for what it is!

 

Life With Disability

  

Everyone can all see I have a physical disability. However my CP barely disables me unless there is a phone involved. What disables me is community attitudes and lack of understanding.  I feel my seizures are far more disabling than my CP, yet seizures are both a blessing and a curse.

Officially I do not have epileptic seizures. My seizures are possibly linked to a non-cancerous brain tumour.  Not one is real sure and my real claim to fame is bandboozal Queensland top neurologists. It is easier to say I have epilepsy as  the treatment and first aid are the same.

My seizures make me unemployable!  Any artist’s dream my artwork does not need to put food on the table.  If I wanted to I could enjoy creating art all day every day. Except I have this other passion is to advocated for other people with disability and breakdown social barriers in our local community.  This I achieved by being cheeky and laughing at the stupidity of others.

 

 

Purple Day 26th March

 

Go Fundraising Page

 

If you were unable to make my artist's talk

You can still make a donation via

my Go Fundraising Page.

 

The art display runs to the end of the week.

NDIS Roll out

 

The National Disability Scheme known as the NDIS was designed to be more than the next model of Disability Care in Australia. It was a move away from traditional 'medical model' to a system that enable people with disabilities, their careers and family members to engaged in the life of the community.

 

The NDIS was developed in consultation with people living with disabilities, their families and employees of the disability sector through the Every Australian Counts campaign. At the core of the campaign were ensuring the human rights of Australians living with disability. It was about creating equal access to things like affordable housing, early intervention therapy programs, education, training & employment including voluntary work, sports & recreations,  and justice & legal representation.

 

These were some of the areas identify by the UN that breach the stands of human rights in Australia. People with disabilities are among the most economical disadvantage in this country.  When it comes to those with intellectual or psychological disabilities access to the justice is rare. 

 

So how did a scheme based on a human rights movement at grassroots become about affordability to the nations budget?  The budget blow-outs and miss management of funding have been fully reported in the media. But how did we get it so wrong?  Or is this another myth surrounding the lives of those with disabilities?

 

How much is too much to ensure the human rights of the most disadvantage Australians?  I do not pretend to have a figure in mind.  I just think its too soon to be evaluating this reform.

 

Lets remember the NDIS is not welfare nor a system of handouts. It is the system that get people dressed, feed and ready for school, uni or work.  It is a system that allows people to live in their own homes while enabling parents to return to the workforce or older siblings to study.  The scheme is about more than those who have disabilities.  It is a scheme for all Australians.

 

It is a scheme that will generate jobs, using Ipswich as an example about 4000 residents are eligible for some level of assistance that's up from 2600. Once fully operational that is over 4000 jobs to the region and more family members being able to work and there list dependent on welfare.  How do we measure than value?

 

We need to value the scheme on its full social and future economic value and not the current delivery costs.

 

Towards A Brighter Future

 

 

 

Personally I looking forward to a brighter future under the NDIS. It is my hope the NDIS will allow for more flexibility in the way I access my support hours. Currently the majority of my support hours are locked into certain times provided by providers.  The NDIS gives me a choice of service providers or even the option to employ my workers directly.

 

The agency should not be offering anyone a blank cheque. Supports are now tied to the persons individual goals and how the want to achieve there goals.  Participants are not free to spend their package how they want.

 

Support packages which include support hours, center based supports, accommodation support, job support, transport services, early intervention, learning support, medical supplies and equipment, mobility and communication aids must be link to a NDIS goal and that money needs to be spent on supports to achieve a particular goal.  The NDIS should include a more rigorous accounting system to avoid over spending.

 

NDIS goals (the things people with disabilities want to do - e.g. train for the special Olympics) are to encourage community participation. In my case that is living as a professional artist. This has been a long term goal of mine for a few years now.  Its not a goal I invented for the NDIS, but it does tell you about the activities I want to engage in.

 

 

 

 

The Agency is less likely to support activities that do not result in community involvement for the participants or a family member.  Respite may enable a full time carer to play lawn bowls one day a week. All this participation can in itself stimulate the economy. For example lunch after a game of golf or movie tickets.

 

When we look at specific activities that people may choose to engage in its easier to see the wider benefits to our community. The over flow on economic benefits will not be seen until the NDIS is fully rolled out.

 

 

 

Initial discuss around participants choices to ensure equal opportunities were using and example of overseas holidays. Supported holidays and travel are not new concepts.  Nor are they luxuries and remember many participants who will nominate this goal with holiday with their families or are working.  By taking holiday people inject money into our economy.  I think we all a looking through to narrow looking glasses to see the full potential to add value of this historic reform.

 

 

Recently my work in the arts community was recognized by my community and Ipswich City Council. Too often outsiders assume I a drain on the public pursue.  Cnr Browynich made the comment that she wish some federal MPs came to tried to keep pace with me  for a week.  I am honour that my council recognises and values my community contribution.

 

At a personal level the NDIS supports will allow me to continue to make this level of contrition.  At least my council members acknowledge the benefits to them should I receive on going support.

 

I hope this enable you to see why this is a reform for all Australians.