NDIS address confusion with community access plans

Trying to get to the bottom of exactly what is going on with community access plans. Why people are still being told they must complete one for access to the scheme, despite NDIS management repeatably confirming that this is not the case?

[@frankie2993]

“It’s a priority” feels like an absolute slap in the face. A report of crucial numbers…

[@bradleyworth4917]

Keep up the excellent work Jordan. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

[@andeebee2530]

Took them four months to reply to my Request for Review of decision after denying me access last September. They have now granted access, after trying for two and a half challenging years since my first access request. I’m now waiting to hear when I’ll have a planning meeting, three weeks have gone by without a word. One person I know has been waiting since before Christmas. Thank you Jordan for supporting us.

[@andrewfairbairn8482]

Sounds like a cop out to me. PACE sounds like a great way for the NDIS to not fund anything.

[@carolpeterson8414]

Unbelievable lack of accountability and management lost at sea

[@gslakes9481]

It really beggars belief that an allegedly optional yes or no prompt in the new system would, simultaneously, all around the country, and in every LAC office. To somehow cause all LACs to tell participants that this is now a mandatory part of the access process. Clearly, someone told them all to do this. In those e-learning modules, or written correspondence. As usual, the NDIA is lying through their teeth, inventing new administrivia to try to force disabled people - with no alternative to the NDIS - to give up on accessing vital healthcare. It is absolutely incredible that a government agency just gets to act like this. But then, it's been years of the NDIA violating the NDIS enabling act with made-up nonsense like primary vs secondary disabilities (not a thing in the act, or in any medical or legal context) and only funding what they see as primary disabilities. Years of disabled people having to go to court to try to get what they need, after medically-untrained bureaucrats - who deem themselves to know better than doctors - overrule medical advice and provide dangerously inadequate and negligent levels of funding for necessary health care. Years of participants having to go to court by themselves, unrepresented against teams of high-powered government lawyers. Despite supported access to representation in court and other legal processes literally being a right we disabled people have under the UN Convention of the Rights of Disabled People, which Australia is a signatory to. Lawyers who also - just like the LACs and other bureaucrats mentioned - are also untrained medically. And yet they routinely tell participants that their only options are ones just as dangerous as suggesting yoga to someone with Ehlers-Danlos. And that's before we count the violations of Model Litigant Obligations, where representatives of the government are meant to be truthful, volunteer information freely, not delay claims or processes arbitrarily, and not take advantage of their opponents not having access to the same resources as them. Or the Public Service Code of Conduct which makes this kind of dishonesty and discrimination a criminal offense for those doing it. The NDIA feels it's above the law, because it might as well be. There are no consequences for doing all of the above, for all the harm they cause disabled people. For the lives they end prematurely. Because it would require the government to admit fault. For the government to prosecute itself. No, they'd rather abuse, neglect, harass, and falsely accuse of fraud the people they're meant to help. A convenient scapegoat for a system that's just a cashcow for their big provider mates. And until someone, somehow, has the funds to launch a class action lawsuit against the NDIS? I fear nothing will ever change for the better

[@nellyjane21]

I feel like we’ve been ROBO DEBTED

[@forestcottage7321]

Well said. I'm an RN and I have always thought the NDIS should also be means tested. I know millionaires and the tax payer doesn't need to fund their healthcare!! It was an appalling joke listening to the BS ineptitude and failures of these people and the nightmare stupid system of the NDIS. It is unbelievable that someone with NO clinical training, is able to assess the needs of people with complex medical diagnosies!! Trained by module's!! Lol

[@gslakes9481]

@@forestcottage7321 While I agree with you that untrained bureaucrats shouldn't be making medical decisions about *anyone*, let alone disabled people? (As is so common within the NDIA/NDIS?) I don't like what happens whenever a medical system introduces means testing, rather than keep a service truly universal. As then we inevitably get the insurance shakedown process seen in the US, where there's routine delays in treatment because of checking their eligibility to health care. This has a cost in lives, health, and productivity, even, by causing further disability, due to these delays. It's better to have a fully-funded system where everyone gets treated equally/equitably, and gets access to what they need quickly. Then one where there's additional bureaucracy added to an already bureaucratic system. Especially as the eligibility infrastructure always ends up being turned against the poor, the migrants, and any other class of person inevitably deemed "unworthy" too. It is galling, I know, to see the rich get away with paying little to no taxes and get all the benefits of society, all benefits supported by our shared labour. (And especially off of your back, as a RN! I know how hard you all work!) But it's a relatively small price to pay to avoid hurting vulnerable groups

[@petacrane9860]

Great work Jordan ...your efforts are greatly appreciated ..thank you ...

[@ronmurray4191]

So NDIS is operating without oversight. And we wonder why NDIS funding has blown out!

[@kirstineblackley1435]

We don't wonder why at all....we know why and what we've just watched is confirmation of it.

[@IamNoodly]

My application was thankfully approved 5 weeks ago and I'm still waiting for a plan meeting. I was told I'd be contacted in 2 weeks. After two weeks I called and said I'd be contacted with 7 days, and provided with a reference number. That was three weeks ago. I understand if I need to wait - but being continuously lied to is confusing and stressful. I feel like I'm holding my breath until it's done.

[@IamNoodly]

I called today and was told in 10 different bureaucratic ways that 'it'll happen when it'll happen'. Call back in another 2 weeks. Didn't even check my records. That's all my spoons for today wasted.

[@sharonplunkett1578]

Thank you so much for being there for all of the disability community

[@andrewfairbairn8482]

Thanks for the shout out Jordan. Keep at them.

[@AngelaHegarty-lq5yk]

Jordan is excellent - his questions were spot on (even if skilfully avoided by the panel).

[@clovers72]

My application was submitted at the end of November 2023. Even though my case was deemed high priority, access was only granted Feb 28 and my plan began May 6th. This is with escalation in place and advocates and myself regularly contacting the NDIA. It was a very very stressful process!

[@ryansyoutube3171]

Meditation for an autism support. My sons OT tried to teach my son meditation and he told her he does rock meditation because he had seen it on an anime. So he showed her and she noticed he wasn’t breathing… he said of course because rocks don’t breathe

[@natalieporter1315]

I have my application process come to a stop because the LAC refuses to proceed without this community access which I apparently can only do in person but the LAC service isn't in my area so I would have to travel an hour rurally to attend while leaving my two children with disabilities and other child with a serious medical problem without me in the area if something goes wrong. This is also caused a lot of stress due to my autism and CPTSD

[@debrahumphreys9305]

Thankyou Jordan for pushing accountability. The panel has lots of airy fairy statements but it seems a lack of a real working plan

[@lat-roc9733]

I have the data. It takes the full 30 days for any email response.

[@apotheticallyautistic73]

Can you please find out about the non disclosure agreements participating organisations involved in discussions around legislation changes this week must sign and why its being keep a secret?

[@kimfindlay3500]

All I hear is blah, blah, blah from NDIA

[@nellyjane21]

Seems now ndia & ndis can blame the pace system for absolute f ups ! Lac’s receive absolutely no training that is applicable to their position or authority to communicate to any participant ! As I suspected from the start ?

[@philmcgriskin1706]

Hi Jordon , Machiavellian Politicians , cheers ( Aussie ) Phil .

[@lauramcwhae68]

Thanks for keeping the bastards honest Jordan. Some of my Recovery Coaching clients have experienced significant distress which has made me very stressed too as a result of plan review time blowouts over the past 6 months due to the pace roll out.

[@davidstokes8441]

NDIS is proving a disaster for the client, the taxpayer and the government, but a cash cow for "deliverers"

[@jodiestanden8254]

What choice - no choice given to do community connection plan or not or even explain they were doing one!!!

[@forestcottage7321]

Jordon you are a breath of fresh air, and you need to be running the country!!

[@andrewfairbairn8482]

None of this makes any sense at all.

[@kirstineblackley1435]

It's absolutely disgraceful

[@SecretSquirrrrel]

How lucky people are to have Jordan in their corner.

[@debrahumphreys9305]

Seems like ndis has limited accountability.

[@wheelchaircrashtest]

Bs is cheaper today cheaper than yesterday

[@peterdmatthews7427]

Your example is nothing compared to what I saw recently. NDIA ignored the participant's goals, using their own goals, telling the participant they should move to a capital city based upon NDIA goals. This was only the beginning.... The system is broken and NDIA don't know their own legislation or rules. They breached everything, overlaying their own views that have no bearing upon the participant.

[@kirstineblackley1435]

Participants being told to relocate is nothing new.

[@peterdmatthews7427]

@@kirstineblackley1435 one small aspect...

[@thehouseofswords]

um um um .... you are STILL issuing these community connections plans .... STOP DOING IT

[@modeshift]

Only green I like.

[@wizza12]

#SACKTHEMALL