Families in 'anguish' as NDIS agency accused of 'fighting' participants, not helping

ABC NEWS (Australia)

NDIS participants have been contacting ABC News for months, reporting cuts or reviews of plans with little or no warning, made by staff who don't understand disability. A legal service that represents participants through NDIS appeals says it has seen a 60 per cent increase in demand for its services. The NDIA says a staffing boost has helped it assess more plans than ever before, and all staff undergo "intensive and ongoing" disability training.

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00:00What day is it today?

00:03Bianca Freeman left school last year.

00:06Good job, woo!

00:08NDIS support has helped her make friends and do a TAFE course.

00:13She needs supports to do that because of the level of her disability.

00:17Bianca lives with intellectual disability and is non-verbal.

00:21Day-to-day living is a challenge for her in most aspects of her life.

00:26Last year her mother Amy Freeman notified the NDIS Bianca would be leaving school

00:31and would no longer qualify for education department assistance.

00:36She expected her daughter's support would increase to help her become independent.

00:41That didn't happen.

00:43I was in absolute disbelief.

00:45If we don't have a plan in place that covers supports for five days a week

00:51with safe transport, one of us will have to give up work.

00:54The federal government is working to slow the growth of the NDIS,

00:59projected to cost more than $50 billion next financial year.

01:03Families across Australia have contacted the ABC,

01:07concerned about cuts to plans and reviews done without warning.

01:11A legal firm specialising in disability rights

01:14has seen a 60% increase in demand since last year.

01:18What we're seeing is anguish.

01:20What they're describing is hostility and neglect.

01:23The review of Bianca's plan suggested she see a job coach

01:27and could get about using taxis.

01:29Individuals are making these decisions seemingly

01:32with no understanding of the context of that person's life.

01:36The agency that runs the scheme has told the ABC

01:39staff undergo intensive and ongoing training

01:42in how to deal with disability

01:44and in how to make decisions that comply with relevant legislation.

01:48It says it will meet with Bianca's family to discuss their concerns.

01:53Inrichil.

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