'Something is wrong': Inquiry hears harrowing school violence stories

By bobb |

Sherryn Groch, Kirsten Lawson

A nine-year-old boy who feels "all hope is lost" after being punched, kicked and strangled in the schoolyard remains in the same class as the child responsible.

A family was forced to send their daughter interstate to escape bullying and violence at school, after footage of her assault spread across social media last year.

These are some of the harrowing stories parents have shared with an ACT inquiry into school violence

NDIS a two-year 'nightmare' for Border mother

By bobb |

Struggles with NDIS requirements and the lack of support provided pushed a NSW mother to the point of considering foster care for her daughter.

Elizabeth Noone said she no longer wanted this, but described her experience with the National Disability Insurance Scheme over the past two years as "a nightmare".

Her daughter Jasmine, 11, has autism, an intellectual disability, epilepsy, diabetes, is non-verbal and often becomes agitated.

Tribunal blasts NDIA over 'haphazard' handling of Canberra woman's case

By bobb |

Doug Dingwall

An appeals tribunal has called for Social Services Minister Dan Tehan to stop "haphazard" decision-making at the National Disability Insurance Agency blamed for delays in reviews involving support for a Canberra woman.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme participant, whose name was suppressed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, asked the agency to review new plans that reduced her support compared to her first one.

Submission on autism/ASD and the NDIS in the ACT

By convenor |

A4 and SOfASD made a joint submission to the ACT Standing Committee on Health, Ageing and Social Services about the NDIS. It concludes with the following section:

Conclusions and suggestions

The NDIS has enormous potential to improve the lives of Australians with disability and the whole community. But to achieve its goals, the NDIS needs to be so much better than it is now.

The NDIA seems to have issues particularly with autistic participants.

NDIS leaving parents of children with a disability feeling stressed, let down by the process

By bobb |

By Stephanie Dalzell and Elise Scott

At 85-years-of age, Noel Thompson did not expect to still be on duty, providing around-the-clock care to his adult son Adam — who has an intellectual disability.

For the past three decades Noel has received funding to place Adam in respite care when needed, but last year that funding was cut from the 48-year-old's NDIS plan.

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