Annie in wonderland

https://open.spotify.com/show/2dLRtagYg0ZQqizcjvvrgY?si=fa2a6dffbeca4c46   When people talk about the NDIS, the conversation often begins with change. A new announcement, a new policy, a new review, or a new headline appears and suddenly thousands of people are trying to work out what it means for them, their families, their supports, and their future. But the reality of the NDIS is much bigger than any single announcement. Behind every change are real people trying to navigate a system that affects their everyday lives. There are participants trying to understand what their options are. There are families supporting loved ones through uncertainty. There are support workers helping people achieve their goals. There are support coordinators working every day to help people understand not just what is happening, but why it is happening. This is where conversations become important. Because knowing that something has changed is very different from understanding the impact of that chan...

Difficulty, Not Discrimination: Literacy, Critical Thinking and Learning to Question What We Think We Know Why difficult conversations matter One thing I have been thinking about a lot lately is literacy, media literacy, and the importance of critical thinking — especially within disability and support conversations. We live in a time where people are surrounded by information constantly. Headlines. Short-form videos. Social media debates. Opinion pieces. Algorithms deciding what we see. Outrage cycles designed to get attention. In this environment, one of the most important skills we can develop is not knowing everything. It is knowing how to think. Critical thinking does not mean automatically agreeing with someone. It also does not mean automatically rejecting someone. It means listening. Questioning. Researching. Comparing information. Looking at evidence. Understanding context. And then deciding where you personally stand. That applies to everyone. Disabled people. Non-disabled pe...

  Disability support plays a vital role in the lives of many individuals, families, and communities worldwide. Whether you’re a client, family member, support worker, or simply interested in learning more, understanding how disability support systems work—and why ethics matter—helps us all contribute to safer, more respectful care. A Note on the Journey Living with or supporting someone with a disability can involve days that are challenging, frustrating, or overwhelming. This is part of the human experience—one that deserves patience, kindness, and honesty. This post aims to share insights openly and respectfully, helping us grow stronger together. Disability Support Systems Around the World Disability support looks different everywhere, influenced by culture, law, and resources. Here’s a brief overview: Australia’s NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme): Focuses on personalized support with options for self-management, though recent changes like Foundational Suppo...

From Locked Gates to Community Belonging: How Disability Support Changed from Control to Choice Disability support did not appear overnight. The systems, ideas, and expectations we have today were shaped by centuries of beliefs about disability — from fear and misunderstanding, through institutions and segregation, to rights, choice, independence, and belonging. When we talk about disability support, we are not just talking about funding packages, services, workers, or policies. We are talking about a much bigger question: What do we believe disabled people deserve? Do we see people as problems to be fixed? Do we see them as people to be protected? Or do we see them as individuals with their own goals, preferences, strengths, risks, and right to participate fully in life? The answer has changed over time, but the history matters because old ideas do not disappear overnight. Sometimes they remain hidden in the way systems are designed, the way media portrays disability, or the way peopl...