GLOSSODIA parent Sharon Debrincat cannot wait for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to roll-out in Hawkesbury.
Her two children, 12-year-old Tahleah and nine-year-old Owen were diagnosed with autism; Tahleah also has Down syndrome.
‘‘At present, help is very limited and some people miss out on it,’’ Ms Debrincat said.
‘‘Each year I have to apply for respite to get carers.
‘‘I once got funding for Owen; help with his speech among other things, but it was only up to the age of seven.’’
A trial of the NDIS starts in Hawkesbury, Penrith, Blue Mountains and Lithgow in September.
The scheme, financed Australia-wide by a special Medicare levy, aims to cover all people with disabilities by providing for them and their carers, instead of funding disability organisations.
Ms Debrincat said eligibility for help under current arrangements often depended on narrow guidelines.
‘‘There are some conditions which don’t have a diagnosis, so people find it hard to get help for them,’’ she said.
‘‘But the NDIS is focused on needs, not diagnoses.’’
She also said once people joined the NDIS they did not have to reapply and packages covered them up to the age of 18.
‘‘There will be workshops where people can be helped with their applications,’’ Ms Debrincat said.
‘‘This will make a difference to hundreds of thousands of people.
‘‘I’m hoping for more respite and more therapies, such as speech therapy and possibly physio.
‘‘Later on Owen and Tahleah might need other therapies.’’
She said NDIS would not only make a difference to people with disabilities and their carers.
She said earlier interventions in people’s lives would help them remain healthy and possibly train for employment later on.
‘‘In the long run it will probably save the government money,’’ Ms Debrincat said.
NDIS enquiries: 1800800110 or ndis.gov.au.
