Carer’s plea to give Kyiden a chance
A HERNE HILL woman says the National Disability Insurance Agency is blocking her autistic great-grandson from receiving the 24/7 care he desperately needs.
Kyiden, who also has ADHD, a severe language disorder and displays behaviours including biting, swearing and meltdowns, is cared for by 66-year-old Lili Gocentas.
Documents seen by the Geelong Advertiser show a specialist formally recommended the seven-year-old move for two terms to a Mansfield autism school that would offer routine, interventions and around-theclock support.
But Ms Gocentas says even though Kyiden was offered a place by the school, delays with the National Disability Insurance Scheme meant he was unable to take it up.
Due to his condition, he regularly attacks his struggling greatgrandmother, and catering for Kyiden’s high needs has left her feeling isolated, distressed and exhausted. The service in Mansfield offered him a placement that could have provided priceless intensive intervention, Ms Gocentas said.
But she says the NDIA subjected the family to significant delays, which caused Kyiden to miss enrolment cut-offs throughout this year.
“You need to put in for a plan review and that’s when it takes a long time,” she said. “The NDIA has not acted fast enough to fund it.”
Ms Gocentas said the NDIA told her it would fund Kyiden to go to the school for one term — not two, as recommended by the specialist — but due to the agency’s delays, the family had missed the term four cut-off.
And Kyiden will now not be afforded another chance to attend the school until next year — leaving Mrs Gocentas to care for him over summer, she said.
“We’ve missed nearly a whole year because of the NDIA not acting promptly,” she said.
A spokeswoman for the NDIS said Kyiden currently had the appropriate supports in place to ensure he could attend school.
Kyiden currently attends a local specialist school, but Ms Gocentas said his severe behavioural issues were impacting his education and he needed more intensive support.
“The NDIA has been in recent contact with Kyiden’s family and is continuing to work with them to ensure he receives the disability-related supports he needs,” the NDIS spokeswoman said.
Mansfield Autism Statewide Services, which runs the residential school, did not respond to the Addy’s requests for comment.
Kyiden was first offered a place earlier this year starting at the beginning of term three, Ms Gocentas said.
Ms Gocentas said the school had given the NDIA leeway, but the agency missed the very final deadline and the school needed to fill the place at the start of this term.
Have you experienced issues with the NDIS? Email tamara.mcdonald@news.com.au