More than 700 people with disability and their families filled out the survey that asked about your experiences during the first wave of the Coronavirus pandemic. What impact did the pandemic have on your lives? How did you cope and what you thought of the changes made to the NDIS during this time?
The problems raised were the usual issues – confusing, changing and inconsistent information, lengthy delays, lack of flexibility, poor treatment at the hands of Local Area Coordinators or NDIA staff. These issues are bad enough at the best of times. But in the middle of a global pandemic they stood in the way of people with disability getting what they needed to stay safe and well.
What people said they wanted to see change included:
- Recognition of the additional costs of disability and greater financial support
- Clear simple communication
- Extra support from the NDIS
- Greater flexibility in using NDIS funds
- Simpler, easier and quicker processes
- Better training for Local Area Coordinators and NDIA staff