Anyone started with the NDIS?

@eth

You are such a brave lady..

I felt a spiritual side to you from first few conversations and in reading the flow between you and @Mazarita

I am so sad that you have been treated so abysmally in this world....all so very wrong...fallout from that affecting your children....no sense to any of it..

life is such a challenge...

when I think of all of the selfish..egotistical people whom I have to engage with at times...comparison just does not come anywhere close..

Good that you have som support from ..brother and wife?

take care and hope that you have a peaceful night xx

Peace to you too @Former-Member xx

Hi @Tessarightpaw at least if you have lived experience of MH issues you might bring that to your work and truly understand how it is for your client. Unlike so many of the NDIS planners - they admit now that most of their staff are not trained in MH matters.

@Former-Member I truly appreciate your words. Thankyou.

Hi @Tessarightpaw If/when I get to the planning meeting stage I will ask for face to face meeting, not phone call. I have a nominee/carer who is always with me for such things, as well as a disability advocate and at this stage of AAT appeal I also have a legal aid solicitor. The solicitor and my nominee have collaborated with me to do the statement I've mentioned recently. So I do have good help, a feeling of a team on my side.
I get a few hours a week from PHaMs currently but it's not enough, only time to get to essential appointments, chemist and shopping. That's not a quality of life for anyone, which the NDIS claims to enable.

Where I lived until a year ago I was totally isolated and would not have been able to do any of this. But I have been trying to get NDIS for a year now and exhausted and demoralised by it all.

The worst aspect is that in order to get it you have to really focus on presenting what your worst days are like, when in a healthy reality you would be working towards the 'recovery model'. (Recovery doesn't mean that you're all better and no longer have a diagnosis, it means you have your challenges managed in a way that enables growth and a sense of purpose in life and involvement in community).

Your input is appreciated as this thread is meant to help others embarking on the NDIS access journey, not just be a place for me to vent about it.

@Former-Member @Appleblossom @Former-Member @Former-Member @Bunniekins @frog @Phoenix_Rising @Faith-and-Hope and others here some of this post may interest you too.

@eth Good morning eth... am really hoping that you are feeling okish today.... the NDIS journey is not for the faint hearted. I think you very brave trail blazing it for the rest of us with mi. I will never forget years ago now walking into a room full of government officers to advocate for my son. It was only me and about 8 of them ... anyway they totally ganged up on me. I walked out in a flood of tears ... never again ... I am so happy that you have support people with you, that is so important as you already know, as they are a bunch of b*stards and will try and weasel their way out of helping you.

Hi and thanks @Bunniekins. If you ever need them, Disability Advocates are in every state. Although lately the gov't has mentioned cutting off their funding, but at this stage that hasn't happened.

I am more grateful than words can say for the help my sil in particular gives me with all this. Last week she spent 3 full days and nights working on statements for my appeal. While she has taken leave without pay to be a full-time artist and prepare for 2 exhibitions within the next 3 months. I feel guilty about it, but wouldn't cope without her. It's down to her efforts that all my other supports have been made possible.

@eth you are getting me quite teary eth .... I so hope it goes through for you I really do. So happy that you have the support that you do and thanks for the heads up on Disability Advocates i have taken a note of that.

@eth

why am I not surprised that a family member is willing to sacrifice so much time to help you?

she truly sees your worth and how much you give to others...

I am so glad that you have them in your life...