Anyone started with the NDIS?

Hi @eth, so glad you survived your meeting okay, even though it was such a stressful process. I have to run this morning, off to a GP appointment and have only just got up. But I wanted to say congratulations for making it this far and for following through so well once again. Love. ox

Hi @CheerBear, hope to catch you later, when I get home from appointment. ox

A smooth day to all reading or passing through here.

@eth well done on conquering your planning meeting. I have mine next Wednesday. I have to admit I feel like I am ill prepared. I have only had minimal support from a disability advocate and support worker. I've been pretty much left to navigate the system alone. All the phone calls, reports (including a WHODAS which I got my psychiatrist to complete) was initiated by me. I am very frightened of losing support I do have (which is next to nothing as it is). I feel like I've fallen overboard and growing tired of treading the NDIA's water.

Keep blazing the trail eth!

@Queenie you might be in your meeting by now - I truly hope it goes well for you and that you are feeling clear and confident that you can give them a true picture of your life and ask for the right supports to be funded. Thinking of you and sending my best wishes. Looking forward to talking after it's done.

Oh, maybe it's next Wednesday, not today....??

@Mazarita @CheerBear @Twinklelight @Bunniekins and anyone else following here ...... another heads up .........

I had done a WHODAS previously with my psychiatrist too but they still wanted to do a fresh one.

Despite telling me she would have read ALL my reports and statements before the meeting, it was clear she had NOT. Had only read up to the internal review and not several more recent ones that were done for the external AAT appeal that ended up not happening. So yet again the head doesn't speak to the hands, so to speak. i.e. the LAC assessor who did the planning meeting had not seen all the documents their (NDIS's) own solicitor had requested. So we have sent them all through yesterday. The circus goes on.

What I'm saying by the above vent is take EVERYTHING you have to the planning meeting!

Hi @eth and @CheerBear, I think there's been some confusion, my big planning meeting is next Wednesday (not today). I am beginning to get nervous about it.

Hi @Queenie sending those wishes to you for next week then! And for the days in between - have some NDIS-free days if you possibly can. I hope some of my suggestions in previous posts can help you feel somewhat prepared.

@CheerBear Sounds like you're going to be pretty organised by the time you have your meeting. I hope you hear about it soon.

Hi @Bunniekins and anyone else who already has an NDIS plan ........

Have been having quite a bit of anxiety about the next phase after I get an NDIS plan - putting it into action, hoping I can do more than I do now but at the same time not knowing how I'll cope with that. It's been so many years without any support until I came here and even here only going out for essential appointments, chemist and groceries.

Hoping you won't mind me asking you some questions about it all. Do you have a plan manager or are you self-managing? How did you go about finding good supports? Do you have a co-ordinator of supports?

@Queenie @CheerBear@Twinklelight@Bunniekins@Mazarita and anyone else following this thread. WOW WOW WOW - my NDIS plan came through about 1/2 an hour ago. Only 3 days after the planning meeting!! And everything we asked for was approved!!! $55000 for the year in total!!! Co-ordination of supports, plan management, travel training, travel allowance, support worker increased hours (tripled), weekly psychology for the year (possibly the most significant for me) (minus the 10 MHCP sessions) - can't think what else just now.

Such a jumble of feelings. On the one hand it's amazing good news, on the other it's going to mean heaps of challenging changes over the next phase. Don't want to sound ungrateful at all, just a bit surreal right now.

Thankyou all soooooooo much for your support getting to now. I'm more grateful than words can say.

@eth Hi eth we have a plan manager. She is pretty good and will stay with her. I wouldn't do it myself I just don't have the brain power for it lol

My son goes to a 5 day day program for 5 hours a day he then has a carer once a fortnight who takes him out on activities and also a disco once a month. He should have money for respite on top of that which we are currently fighting for so hopefully that will come through soon. I cannot complain about his package really I think we have done quite well considering how other people have done in recent times.