Anyone started with the NDIS?

Thanks, @eth. I hope things work out for you. It shouldn’t be this hard. 😕

@eth @NikNik

Hi @eth

Sorry to hear you have been through these processes and are finding it stressful. NikNik let me know you had mentioned whether there was additional support you can get. Not sure if you remember me, but I'm from MIFQ and led some of the NDIS Special Events info sessions on the online forums in the last couple of months.

I went back to my NDIA community engagement team contact with your comment and she had this response.

"The person already has pursued the complaints process, and received a response. All we can do is encourage the person to seek support to complete the access process again, and enlist help i.e. advocate if the person feels that they need this. I have added the most recent Power Point I complete with most communities that discusses that the Access Request Form has to emphasise the impact of the disability on the person’s function day to day. I understand that this isn’t the most positive of news but the information within the application needs to not be based on the amount of information submitted, but rather the quality of information that speaks to impact on the person’s functionality".

I would also say that, I know this process is impacting on your wellbeing, but getting support from an advocacy service can really help if you want to go to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. A list of them are found here:

https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers/programs-services/for-people-with-disability/ndis-appeals

There is also NDAP https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/making-decisions-about-support/ndap

I hope this helps, going to the tribunal helps us all learn about what and how we can best support people in the NDIS. Good luck,

In 'The Guardian' today, about the low rate of approval of 'psychosocial' disability applicants to the NDIS, and the associated systemic problems...

https://amp.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/18/ndis-people-with-severe-mental-health-problems-being-denied-access-on-a-daily-basis

@Former-Member I have had an advocate in this process.

I also note that ALL my reports focussed on the impact my disabilities have on my day to day function. Particularly the 12 page mental health occupational therapist report, but also psychologist, psychiatrist, support organization, and PHaMs all used this as their focus. I do not appreciate the engagement team's assumption.

Thanks anyway. I'm not interested in educating everyone else about what supports are best, I JUST WANT MY NEEDS MET. This has been going on since February and is impacting on me seriously.

Hey @eth

I agree, you do need your needs to be met, and it shouldnt be this hard. We are certainly fighting to have stories such as yours heard and supported. No one likes assumptions about what they may have done or not done in a process and it does sound like you are doing all the right things. There is the tribunal to go to, if you're up to that as the next step in this process.

I'm just on the other side of the computer but feel understanding and supportive of you fighting the good fight, just like I try to do with the people we support face to face.

Warmest regards,

Hi all still following this thread.

How is your application progressing @MattyToo?

@Former-Member sorry I hadn't checked the thread recently and realize you've already been involved here.

Long story short - we (me and my sister-in-law who has been advocating for me) have now found a disability advocate and applied for legal aid through her in order to appeal the NDIS decision through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) I'm now waiting for a case conference with AAT, DA, and NDIS in mid December which I feel quite anxious about.

I wish I could encourage others to try for NDIS but my journey so far is not a positive one.

@Former-Member

Sorry to hear all that @MattyToo. It's really unfair that organizations are putting up their prices to non-NDIS participants. Outrageous. I feel for you. They say if you re-apply your application has to be seen by someone different. Hopefully this will work in your favour.

@eth

Glad to have you tag me, it's nice to hear your update.Good that things are progressing to the next stage with the supports around you. One step at a time,

Kind Regards,

@Former-Member @Former-Member @Appleblossom @Mazarita @MattyToo and anyone else here. Today was the case conference in the morning with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal representative, a lawyer for the NDIS, my Disability Advocate, my sister-in-law (nominee) and brother. I found myself being quized by a lawyer for NDIS about clinical matters that should be answered by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. Luckily I had sil and bro with me and they bailed the lawyer up and told her to put her questions in writing. Nevertheless I was in tears several times in the hour-long teleconference and very fearful about consequences of everything I said. There will be another one in January where we will have a lawyer from legal aid on board. Hopefully that will take the pressure off me. But it's clear more assessments will have to be done. They want to know what bipolar causes and what cPTSD causes - I think it's impossible to separate them as they impact on each other. Enough said maybe - just saying it's been a harrowing and depressing day and I've been resting ever since but don't feel recovered from it. It's impossible for me to get my hopes up about all this. The initial access request was back in February. A roller coaster ride with way more downs than ups.