Annie in wonderland

Preparing for Emergencies: A Framework for Supporting People with Disabilities This is not going to be an exhaustive list, but in Australia, we need to be honest with ourselves as we head into extreme weather season. This includes, but isn’t limited to, storms, severe wind, bushfires, extreme heat, and—though I’m loathe to mention it—manmade incidents. This post is aimed at carers and supporters of people with disabilities. It’s not exhaustive, but it offers a framework to get you thinking about what needs to happen in an emergency. Key Considerations: Support Needs & Emergency Plans The first thing to consider is the person’s support needs. Do they have a care package? Does the agency or support worker (whether through a platform or an independent worker) have an emergency plan for the client? It's much better to be prepared than to scramble when a situation arises. Potential Challenges Depending on the emergency, a person with a disability might be cut off from regular suppor...

Why the NDIS Needs a Deficits-Based Funding System The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was designed to support people with disabilities in accessing the services they need to live more independent lives. However, there’s a growing concern that the current funding structure, which leans heavily on skills-based assessments, isn’t providing the most effective support. What we truly need is a deficits-based funding system—where funding is tied to a person’s limitations, with support focused on building the necessary skills to improve quality of life. The Flaws of a Skills-Based Funding System At first glance, a skills-based system may seem logical—funding is allocated based on what people can already do. However, this approach overlooks the reality that many participants need support precisely because of what they cannot do without assistance. It assumes that everyone has a certain baseline of ability, and the funding builds from there, which is simply not the case for many pe...