Every Australian Counts

While the nation’s leaders spent yesterday haggling over who was prepared to pay for the “launch sites” of the national disability insurance scheme (NDIS), it was just another difficult day for people with disability, their families and carers, supporters and service providers.

For the Keogh family in Brisbane, COAG day was spent mulling over the “thrill” of being able to draw down their superannuation to pay for their a wheelchair accessible van and house modifications, so their seven-year-old son with a disability could move to, from and around the family home.

For Caroline, aged in her 40s living in Melbourne, COAG day was spent waiting for a support worker to help her from her bed at 8am, attend to her personal care, help her eat and settle into her wheelchair for the day at home, until the routine was repeated in the late afternoon.  Next month Caroline’s could look forward to her scheduled day of “community access”.

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