Lawyers help tailor NDIS
LEGAL Aid lawyers are helping Tasmanians with concerns about their National Disability Insurance Scheme assessment to get a plan that better suits their needs.
Legal Aid’s Vaia Harradine said the commission had been able to help a number of people unhappy with their NDIS assessments.
“We had a … case of a boy whose NDIS plan didn’t have enough transport funding for him to get to his service provider so that he could engage in community activities,” she said. “We achieved an increase in funding to enable him to attend [the service provider] Life Without Barriers three days a week from 9am to 3pm.
Ms Harradine said despite the challenges, the NDIS case work was rewarding.
“It’s wonderful work and we have resolved every single matter,” Ms Harradine said.
Legal Aid also has successfully appealed the NDIS plan for Jesse Evans, who is living with cerebral palsy and intellectual disability. The review of his plan has resulted in more physiotherapy, gym membership and hydrotherapy support, as well as community access and more funding for continence products and for support workers to help him get ready in the morning and go to bed at night.
Ms Harradine said the National Disability Insurance Agency assessed if a client was living with a permanent disability that substantially affected their physical function, everyday work and social lives.
“Based on that assessment, they allocate support,” she said. “Obviously, the NDIS plans are very individual and tailored to the participant.
“In some cases, the participant is not happy with the plan. In other cases, they simply don’t get into the scheme.”
Participants had a legal right to have those decisions reviewed. Advocacy Tasmania received funding to help those clients.
If advocacy is not successful, the participant can then seek an external review to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, where Legal Aid can provide free representation.
Ms Harradine said there were time limits in seeking reviews so it was important to get assistance as soon as possible.