Opinion Posts Archive - Page 3 of 5 - Every Australian Counts

Opinion 21 May 2019

Photo of Ricky Buchanen. She is lying on a bed, looking up at a computer screen which is mounted above her for use from a lying down position in bed. There are bits and pieces around, including a checklist for carers, and some other assistive tech.

Becoming visible: A chat with Ricky Buchanan

How is the NDIS working for people who can’t leave their homes?

Opinion 2 May 2019

Close up photo of Melissa Norman smiling at the camera

“We deserve to be heard”: An open letter about the NDIS by Melissa Norman

“My name is Melissa Norman, I am 23 years old and I’m writing this letter to highlight the problems people with disabilities experience on the NDIS.”

Opinion 25 March 2019

Ben, an electric wheelchair user talking to a young woman in an accessible kitchen

Are we getting action – or just more talk?

At the end of last week the Federal Minister for Social Services Paul Fletcher announced a new government action plan to get young people out of aged care.

So what is in the plan, what does it have to do with the NDIS – and what will it mean for young people currently trapped in facilities around the country?

George Taleporos from the Summer Foundation explains it all for us.

Opinion 21 May 2018

Autism and the NDIS – what is going on?

There has been a great deal of media coverage during the last week about NDIA plans to review the guidelines which govern access to the NDIS. In particular whether or not they plan to change the guidelines relating to people with autism.

Opinion 17 May 2018

NDIS review system can no longer be ignored

The Commonwealth Ombudsman has released a report on the administration of NDIS reviews. Among other things, it noted that as of February 2018 there were 8,100 reviews on hand, and a further 620 new review requests each week.

Opinion 4 May 2018

A man using a motorised wheelchair, with an iPad, in his accessible apartment.

Disability advocates alarmed as the NDIA breaks its silence on disability housing

You may have missed it last week with all the fuss about the government’s decision to walk away from the increase to the Medicare Levy to fund the NDIS, but the National Disability Insurance Agency finally broke its silence on the future direction of disability housing in the NDIS.

Opinion 9 April 2018

The AAT and why what they say is important

Many people don’t know where to turn when they have a problem with the NDIS. Sam Paior from The Growing Space explains what happens when an NDIS review goes the next step – to the AAT – and why we should all be paying close attention to why those AAT decisions are so important.

Opinion 1 March 2018

25 years on – the Disability Discrimination Act

Disability Discrimination Commissioner Alastair McEwin talks about the Disability Discrimination Act (the DDA) today, on it’s 20th anniversary

Opinion 22 November 2017

Don’t screen out our humanity

The idea of screening genetic conditions has become part and parcel of having children for many Australian couples. The recent push by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute for

Opinion 28 October 2017

Choice and Control Under Threat: Victoria must listen to people with disability and stay true to the principles of the NDIS

Choice and control is one of the fundamental principles of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. We must be vigilant to ensure that this important principle is not lost in the rollout.

Opinion 29 May 2017

Exciting and challenging times…

Over the past 2 ½ years I have spoken with thousands of people with disability, their families and carers, advocates and support workers sharing information, knowledge and experience about all things NDIS. These discussions have highlighted issues, anxieties, problems and frustrations but also options, possibilities, developments and opportunities for the future. I have loved my role as Community Educator for the Every Australian Counts campaign; it is something I feel very proud and privileged to have been a part of and these are exciting and challenging times.

Opinion 9 May 2017

Is NDIS really as scary as people say it is?

If you have a child with a disability and never have been eligible for financial assistance before, the NDIS is like the answer to your dreams. To be able to write a plan with no limits, no thinking about the cost, no thinking where will I get the money from. I can tell you this was a dream we would have never thought possible.

Opinion 12 April 2017

Ben’s Travels; buses and beyond…

I belong to a group on Facebook. It’s called “NDIS Grassroots Discussion”, and it’s a place where nearly 30,000 people share their NDIS stories – their fears, wrongs, questions, anger and sometimes, their NDIS joys.

Opinion 8 March 2017

Siblings and the NDIS

The NDIS is a new way of supporting people with disability. Whilst it aims to provide greater choice and control regarding services for participants it also recognises the important role of ‘informal supports’.

Opinion 14 February 2017

Tea for two – our journeys

My sister Meredith and I are friends. We meet at least twice a week to drink tea and catch up. We work on arts projects together and belong to a peer organisation where Meredith is a member of the group I facilitate called the Freedom Fighters.

Opinion 31 January 2017

My Daughter Is Not Special!

When I set out on the path of planning for my daughter’s migration to the NDIS I was determined that there would be nothing special about her supports, her equipment or her life.

Opinion 16 December 2016

Amazing things are going to happen

My name is Kathryn Lyons and I’m going to change the world.

Opinion 30 November 2016

Let our voices be heard

I really wasn’t sure where to start. Being autistic, I have a lot of thought processes going on but I wanted to share our experience on the NDIS journey.

Opinion 11 November 2016

Hope for the future

I grew up “with my mother’s knees” – the sort that didn’t like to stay together when I looked a certain way. And I also learned her generous ways, and gave the same delights to my daughter. Oh, and apparently there were quite a few other genes I passed on that were “just not right” in so many ways.

Opinion 2 November 2016

Forward we must go

Last week Every Australian Counts launched a social media action triggered by the announcement that the Federal Social Services Minister is ready to move ahead with a new Board of the NDIA.

Opinion 6 October 2016

Disability, Diversity and the NDIS

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is one of the most important social reforms in recent history. The NDIS creates a uniform system of disability services across Australia and increases the social and economic participation of people with disability.

Opinion 14 September 2016

NDIS. Personal growth, new opportunities

The NDIS rollout in Victoria has encouraged new enterprises – from sole traders to not-for-profit associations.

Opinion 9 August 2016

Calling Out Ableism in the Media: Stop Being So Offensive To Disabled People

This weekend’s Good Weekend featured the story “Parenting an intellectually disabled child: life forever on duty” about Alex Browne a 22-year-old man with an intellectual disability. It showed that not much has changed when it comes to improving media representation of people with disabilities in this country. But listen up journos, it’s not okay to degrade people with disabilities and represent us as burdens, just because you think it makes a good story.

Opinion 4 August 2016

Access NDIS

Today, the call came. After years of campaigning, seeing it germinate from a crazy new idea to a bi-partisan policy, biting fingernails over government changes, trials and then the roll out and waiting to transition.

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