MSWA Bulletin Spring 16

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EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NDIS BUT WERE TOO AFRAID TO ASK NIGEL CAREY, MANAGER NDIS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT There may still be some confusion and uncertainty about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and what it can deliver for MSWA Members. We hope the following article cuts through any misconceptions about the NDIS and clearly outlines how it will increasingly benefit you. As an extra incentive, you also have a chance to win a magnificent hamper! Read further to find out more. What is the National Disability Insurance Scheme or NDIS for short? In a nutshell, it’s a Government scheme to support those people living with a disability which affects their ability to take part in everyday activities. This includes people living with all neurological conditions including MS, Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Huntington’s Disease, and Acquired Brain Injury. The NDIS can provide funding for supports to assist you with your daily living, home help, personal care, carer respite, allied health interventions, community participation and funding for aids, equipment and home modifications. There is also a focus on early intervention where access to early supports can potentially reduce the longer term impact of disability on individuals. This is highly relevant for people with MS. For example, NDIS can provide funding to help people with MS who want to stay in the workforce but struggle with fatigue. NDIS then comes in to play to fund home help, transport assistance and even aids in the workplace. What is so different about the NDIS from what happens now? There are a number of important differences. Firstly, more timely access to funding for necessary supports. And for the first time, you will be in the driver’s seat! You will have choice and control on how, when and where your supports are provided; and by whom. Funds are allocated directly to you for this purpose. You can also choose the service providers you want. As MSWA is a registered service provider, we hope you will allow us to continue to provide you with the services and supports you need. Another important difference - once you enter the NDIS, it is an entitlement for the remainder of your life. You do not need to keep applying for the services and you can have increased supports if your needs change. Sounds great. There must be a catch. What are the eligibility criteria and what will it cost me? To be eligible you must be under 65 years of age and a resident of Australia. The scheme is free and there is no co-payment required for services. The scheme is currently available in the following areas: • Shires of Kalamunda, Shire of Mundaring and the City of Swan • Lower Southwest, Cockburn and Kwinana • Armadale, Murray and Serpentine-Jarrahdale (as of 1 October) From 1 Jan 2017, it will also be available in Bayswater, Bassendean, Chittering, Toodyay, York and Northam. The full state roll-out will take place from July 2017. Am I eligible for NDIS supports even if I am employed full time or part time? Yes, the NDIS is not means tested and there is no co-payment. It is based on need and what is reasonable and necessary for achieving your goals. It seems to open up supports and services for a lot more people. So how do you apply? Is it complicated? All you need to do is complete a simple eligibility form. What then? If you are eligible, you meet with an NDIS planner and review the following: • What do you want to improve in your life? • What are the personal goals you want to achieve? • What are the barriers to achieving these goals? • What support do you need to help you achieve your goals? Can you provide some examples of goals? They can be wide and varied. A goal can be aspirational such as, “I want to return to the workplace” or “I want to go on holiday with my family with supports in place”. A goal may relate to maintaining your current life activities, your social network or your garden. A goal may even relate to everyday activities such as getting dressed, taking a shower, making meals or getting out of bed. 8 | MSWA BULLETIN SPRING 2016
That certainly seems a more comprehensive approach! Do you then put in supports to help achieve these goals? That’s right! For example, if your goal is to be more social, say to go to family events or join in on social outings, your funding can provide in home cleaning, shopping assistance, relevant mobility equipment and transport. This enables you to more fully participate in the community. Another example; say you run your own business but fatigue issues are affecting your ability to manage both work and home life. NDIS can provide funding to support you to manage fatigue and cognitive issues, including OT assessments of your work place and transport for the days you can’t drive. This sounds ok in theory but what about in practice? Does it really work? Do you have any real life examples of how its worked? Later in this article; you can read about the lived experiences of two MSWA Members who have been through the process. They have certainly enjoyed and benefitted from their NDIS journey! So how can MSWA help its Members navigate the NDIS? We know many Members don’t know what the NDIS is all about and even what they can ask for. We now have a dedicated NDIS team ready to help you assess your eligibility and to understand your goals and develop a comprehensive plan with a range of supports. Our team is here to answer all your questions and help you develop tailored plans which maximize your entitlements. We also understand MS, its individuality, its variable course and unpredictable nature. This experience allows us to more effectively advocate for you. Incidentally, we will also work with you after the plan is implemented, to ensure it remains relevant and meets your changing needs. In summary, the MSWA NDIS team ensures a smooth and easy NDIS customer journey. I want to contact the MSWA NDIS team immediately! How do I do this? You can contact any of the following MSWA NDIS team members: Mark Douglas: Operations Manager Email: mark.douglas@mswa.org.au Ph: 08 9365 4824 Christine Richards: Client Relationship Coordinator Email: christine.richards@mswa.org.au Ph: 08 9365 4867 Pranjal Pawar: Client Relationship Coordinator Email: pranjal.pawar@mswa.org.au Ph: 08 9365 4810 The MSWA NDIS team has sent out letters to our Members in Armadale, Murray and Serpentine-Jarrahdale. These areas are in the new trial site which began on 1 October. We hope to have the opportunity to meet up with you personally if you live in these areas. We will also be present at a number of expos and events in the upcoming months. Please contact us to find out more. We would be happy to talk further with you! Finally, your chance to win a magnificent hamper! Just answer the following three questions about the NDIS: • What does the acronym ‘NDIS’ stand for? • What is the age limit for the NDIS? • Which areas did the NDIS expand to on 1 October? Email your answers to nigel.carey@mswa.org.au However, be quick! Only the first correct reply wins! My NDIS Story: The Lived Experiences of MSWA Members Anita Gamba Before MSWA and the NDIS I was sad, scared, isolated and lonely. My body and my life were atrophying. My future looked bleak. Enter MSWA and the NDIS and immediately life exploded with possibilities and potentials. I was nurtured, cared for and befriended. Let me list a few of the gifts I have received through the NDIS and MSWA partnership. I have had railings installed in my bathroom, pool, and walkways. I receive physio and occupational therapies. A bespoke wheelchair was designed and gifted to me. I can now move safely around my home and in the broader community. What greater gift is there other than rekindling my passion for life? I only hope that I can give back as much as I have received from these dedicated people. Kylie Kylie lives in the Lower South West. She experiences cognitive symptoms as part of her MS. She is very aware of these symptoms and they are a cause of great stress and anxiety for her. Kylie’s WA NDIS plan included a transdisciplinary approach to allow her to maintain her independence and well-being at home and in the community. Over the last 12 months Kylie’s MSWA OT has been able to provide the following services: • Custom scripting of a new light weight manual wheelchair to maintain independent mobility within the home. • Trial, scripting and purchase of a mobility scooter to allow Kylie independent access to the community. She is now able to independently take her puppy for walks and venture into town without having to rely on others for assistance. • In-home strategies to help Kylie manage her cognitive symptoms. One of Kylie’s therapy goals was to be able to prepare a meal independently for her husband and herself, one day a week. Kylie’s MSWA OT completed a home visit and task analysis of Kylie cooking a recipe which she selected. Her OT was able to provide strategies during this task to support Kylie in: • Managing MS cognitive and physical fatigue • Reducing anxiety • Managing cognitive symptoms which make this seemingly mundane task very difficult and overwhelming for Kylie Outcome: Kylie is now able to prepare a meal independently for her and her husband, using individualised strategies put in place by her OT. MSWA BULLETIN SPRING 2016 | 9
Page 1 and 2: BULLETIN THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF M
Page 3 and 4: Letter from the Editor DR GREG BROT
Page 5 and 6: A message from the General Manager
Page 7: Just one in 1,000 people with MS ha
Page 11 and 12: Eating Well Healthy eating and an a
Page 13 and 14: DR GOOGLE - TO BELIEVE OR NOT TO BE
Page 15 and 16: PURCHASING EQUIPMENT? WE RECOMMEND
Page 17 and 18: muMS GROUP - A SHARED SPACE TO TALK
Page 19 and 20: ut depending on the approach, the e
Page 21 and 22: ANYWHERE WITH COLIN ROS HARMAN, SUP
Page 23 and 24: Don’t let a little dispute injure
Page 25 and 26: FUNDRAISING ROUNDUP MEGA HOME LOTTE
Page 27 and 28: I would also like to thank all the
Page 29 and 30: SOUTH WEST Regional Round Up The la
Page 31 and 32: ALBANY OUTREACH NEWS CAROLINE CLARK

MSWA Bulletin Spring 16

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