People with intellectual disabilities and serious mental illnesses are struggling to secure a face-to-face meeting to determine the level of care they can receive under the National Disability Insurance Scheme, a Victorian disability advocate says.
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Grampians Disability Advocacy executive officer Debbie Verdon said clients were left confused by phone interviews which quizzed them on the nature of their disability. She said all people – regardless of their disability – were asked the same questions.
The call is intended to determine what “reasonable and necessary support” a person requires under the scheme however some clients didn’t understand who was calling or the questions they were being asked, Ms Verdon said.
Questions include whether a person can shower unassisted and how long they can stand before needing to sit down, she said.
“We’ve had contact with people who have found it extremely difficult if not impossible to get a face-to-face meeting even though the National Disability Insurance Agency does maintain that all you need to do is ask but we’re not finding that’s happening,” Ms Verdon said.
“Some people are getting rung up and being asked a whole heap of questions about their disability but they don’t even really understand who’s making the call."
“We advise people to ask for a face-to-face meeting because a person with any kind of cognitive impairment or a serious mental illness finds it difficult to conduct this over the phone.”
The service’s concerns come on the back of scathing criticism from Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability executive officer Kevin Stone, who said the scheme was putting clients through a “cookie-cutter approach” which overlooked the needs of the individual.
NDIS planning is delivered in the Grampians by Latrobe Community Health Service. A spokesperson said the not-for-profit service had contacted Grampians Disability Advocacy on Tuesday to discuss their concerns.
An National Disability Insurance Agency spokesperson said the agency acknowledged “the participant and provider experience during this time of transition can be improved” and said the agency was “committed to identifying and resolving any issues”.
“We apologise for the reported experience and will ensure that our staff do offer face-to -face plans where that is the preference of the individual,” they said.
Grampians Disability Advocacy can assist with appeals to NDIS decisions if a person has been refused support they requested in their plan or participation under the scheme. For assistance call 1800 552 272 or find Grampians Disability Advocacy on Facebook.
Jessica Black
Ballarat journalist.
Ballarat journalist.
