Family making progress with NDIS
FOR 22-year-old Natasha Rapana, the arrival of the National Disability Insurance Scheme has been nothing short of life changing.
Diagnosed with an intellectual disability in grade three, Natasha’s grandmother, Poppy, said that life has been difficult and often lonely as she struggled to find acceptance and the support she needs to achieve her goals.
“Natasha is a hard worker and a really great girl, I’m very proud of her,” Poppy said.
“She hasn’t always received the right support to help her develop and overcome her challenges, but I think we’re finally making progress.
“She’s a really active person, and her disability has never held her back from enjoying things like swimming, ballet and sports in general.
“But there have been times at school when people have made fun of her and left her feeling excluded, and in various jobs she’s not been given the help and encouragement needed to succeed.
“But finally, we feel like we’re on the right track, and it’s all thanks to the NDIS and the team at Endeavour Foundation.
“When I heard about the NDIS, I thought, ‘right Natasha, this is us’.
“I went to see Endeavour Foundation and they helped us to gather information, prepare for our planning meeting and then get Natasha out into the working world.
Natasha received NDIS funding to help her find and keep a job and, Poppy says, they are “absolutely thrilled to bits”.
“She’s working at Endeavour Foundation where her colleagues and the staff are friendly and kind, they work with her abilities and are encouraging her to take on more responsibility — it’s beautiful,” Poppy said.
“She’s joined a footy team and has been to a couple of functions with Endeavour Foundation, made new friends and has a whole new life to look forward to.
“Thank you so much to the NDIS — we’ve waited so long for this, and we couldn’t be happier.”