NDIS Living my plan: Part 2
Video transcript
Brad Connelly
Yeah I’ve been with the NDIS, it’s over two years now. I’m on to my third review of my plan and I feel that I’ve got the security and reassurance from the NDIS to know that I’m going to be supported.
The next couple of months I’ve got to do some investigations about what I want to study, how much further I want to go, whether I want to just go to an RTO or I’m considering going to ini, which I’ve never been.
Siobhan Daley
Yes I’m still a typical teenager.
I have a boyfriend in Sydney who I met through Boccia about six years ago. I like music and watching TV.
School takes up most of my time.
Being in year 10 a lot of time is spent on homework. Boccia still takes up about seventy-five percent of my time. I was selected for some high performance training camps.
I also competed in the Junior National Titles and got gold.
I have plans to start a blog, hopefully sometime soon.
Tina Gulino
Well, last 12 months I have contemplated starting studying again.
In training Certificate for Training and Assessment, but unfortunately in the last 3 months I’ve been unwell and pretty much in bed.
Um, I suppose, on a positive side of that is, because of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, it hasn’t been a struggle to get the additional support that I’ve required.
It was an interesting experience because I didn’t end up needing to go to hospital,I didn’t end up needing to go into an aged care facility.
Vanessa McCallum
(Vanessa to Talya brushing her teeth) Don't forget the front ones... and you got to do the back ones.
So, as a family, last year we were trying to look at what is our "normal". Now, we have a sense of what our "normal" is, our character. And, a lot of that has been brought about by Tayla's increased independence and she contributes to the family in ways that we didn't realise she could. Tayla's had some amazing strides in her walking.
So now when Tayla gets on a school bus and when Tayla goes to school holiday programs, she actually walks out the house, very happy and confidently and she steps into the car herself, which, for Talya is a very strong feeling of being able to do something herself.
Joshua and Phillip Young
Hey Josh. Hey Dad. How are you going?
The "Junction" project, as our families call it, has been going now for about four years. And, last time we spoke, we were at a place called "The Junction" and it was a rental accommodation. It was basically a test, or a trial project to see how the boys got on well together in the house and to look at all the problems that occur in that change.
These three young men amazed the families so much in their skills and ability to learn and grow that in June of last year we decided to take it to a final stage and that was to look to buy a house for Josh and for Michael and Fraser.
And that was successful and we're now sitting in Josh's new house in Hamilton, in Newcastle.
Brad Connelly
Psychologically it's really good for my mind. My biggest problem with studying, It's not the academic side of it, that's difficult, but I can get through that, I feel confident that I can nail that. But it's the logistics of actually getting me to the class. You know, my body cooperating, workers available, on time, when I need them. Working with the service providers and the coordinators within the service providers.
Siobhan Daley
I have just opened my own bank account, so I can begin to learn how to transfer money, so I can take over once I finish school.
However, as I get older, I may decide it's not worth my time or energy to fully self-manage and hand some of the job to someone else. So, I might need to investigate that.
Vanessa McCallum
(Vanessa to Tayla) And you tell Val you're going to go bowling.
One of the things NDIA have put in place for us is funding to have a case coordinator. What's really important with having a coordinator like Val is that ultimately we want when Tayla enters adulthood that her plan is driven directly by Tayla. And, we're not going to live forever.
Joshua and Phillip Young
NDIS have been really wonderful. The project coordinator, Sam, has understood our situation because I think we're a little bit different to the others, so we've got three young men who divide up the funds in equal proportions.
Adam Sandford: Josh really has been a bit of the glue in this household. He's always brought the humour and made everyone laugh.
Brad Connelly
When the plan comes together it works great. It gives Pam the opportunity to go and do what she wants to do, with the kids, by herself, she feels comfortable that we're on the right track. But we need to create more consistency with that I think.
Siobhan Daley
There have been times where I have needed to provide further evidence for a couple of things and I understand why this needs to be done. I have also needed to explain why I haven't fully used some of the funding during the last plan and what had changed to mean I would use it this time around.
Tina Gulino
Those shifts that I have every day, the 3 core shifts I have every day, mean that I can plan my life, to do things with friends or family, and sometimes that means having a support worker when I’m within the community, like when I go to the footy, because without her I wouldn’t be able to attend to actually even eat a pie or get through the crowd.
Even 2 and a half years ago, when the NDIA wasn’t in existence, I wasn’t attending any football matches.
(Tina cheering at the football) Yes! Whooo.
There’s nothing quite like being in the crowd and watching sport live.
With my disability, you have peaks and troughs, Um, and that’s ok, because it’s now supported in a way that’s right.
Vanessa McCallum
It’s a very long term goal, but we really believe it for Tayla, is talking.
No matter how much our carers and therapists and schools try and learn some key signs, there's nothing quite like if Tayla can actually explain her needs through speech, instead of having some cards for people to know.
That would be wonderful.
Joshua and Phillip Young
I think the biggest handicap that any of our sons and daughters have, are ourselves.
I find it extremely hard when I'm in the gym with Josh, rather than I drive him home, which I really loved and enjoyed doing, I now have to pull back and I allow a car to take Josh home.
Because this is his independence. It's not up to me. This is for Josh's life, not my life.
And at some stage, I'm not going to be here, so, I know that the skills that Josh is developing now, through me withdrawing, will allow him to have a better life when I'm not here. And, I think from parents, that's all our concern. When we're not here, how's our sons and daughters going to live and survive properly?
Don't ever think that they can't do it, because they can. They only need you to withdraw and allow them to do it.