Mum invites minister to live with her family to show importance of disability support
Disability Access topic
Kirsty Johnson wants the health minister to see how important the National Disability Insurance Scheme is for her family.
In short, a mum invites a minister to her home.
A mum invited the Federal Health Minister to live with her family for a week to show how important the National Disability Insurance Scheme is.
Kirsty Johnson is worried about changes to the NDIS and how it will affect her two autistic sons.
What's next for the family?
Families are waiting to hear more about the changes to the NDIS.
A single mum has invited the health minister to live with her family in regional South Australia.
Kirsty Johnson invited the minister after changes to the NDIS were announced that could affect 160,000 people.
Kirsty Johnson wants the minister to see how much support her children need.
The minister did not respond to the invitation.
Kirsty Johnson's two sons, Noah and Harley, are autistic and have been on the NDIS since it started in 2013.
Kirsty Johnson is always preparing for the next moment her kids need support.
It's not easy being a normal family with autistic children, says Kirsty Johnson.
Going somewhere is a lot of work for Kirsty Johnson's family.
Having autistic children is beautiful but also challenging, says Kirsty Johnson.
Kirsty Johnson and her boys have to navigate school and appointments for therapies.
Living in a regional area makes things harder for Kirsty Johnson's family.
The NDIS has been life-changing for Kirsty Johnson's family, but the planned reforms are causing uncertainty.
Uncertainty for families on the NDIS
The NDIS will now determine eligibility based on functional capacity, not just diagnosis.
The government says the changes will save $15 billion by 2030.
Social participation funding will be cut, with the average plan spend reduced to $26,000.
Mark Butler says the NDIS will grow out of control if changes are not made.
The average spend on social participation will go back to 2023 levels.
Kirsty Johnson is concerned about the cuts to social participation, especially in regional areas.
Kirsty Johnson's kids don't have many friends and need support to experience things.
There are not many support groups or therapists in regional areas, says Kirsty Johnson.
It's hard for Kirsty Johnson's family to link with people who understand in regional areas.
Kirsty Johnson is concerned a new program for children with mild developmental delay and autism won't be enough.
A new program called Thriving Kids will divert children with milder developmental delay and autism away from the NDIS.
Those with significant disability and high support needs will still be eligible for the NDIS.
The Thriving Kids program will start in October, but has received criticism.
A federal government spokesperson said Thriving Kids was designed with experts from various fields.
Thriving Kids will combine existing and new services to enable better awareness and earlier identification of developmental delays.
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Providers are uncertain about the NDIS changes too.
Berri-based child and youth counsellor Anna Strachan is concerned about the reforms.
Families in the Riverland already struggle to access services, says Anna Strachan.
Anna Strachan believes other services will have to pick up the slack for those moved off the NDIS.
Dylan Blackley runs a disability support service in the Riverland.
Many of Dylan Blackley's clients have autism, but also other conditions.
Families are already struggling financially and can't afford additional assessments, says Dylan Blackley.
Without access to assessments, families might be left without support, says Dylan Blackley.
Kirsty Johnson says without the NDIS, her family will be isolated.
Kirsty Johnson is worried about the future without the NDIS.
Kirsty Johnson doesn't want to think about what life would be like without the NDIS.
The NDIS support has made a big difference for Kirsty Johnson's family.
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