On Monday 30th April Australia held rallies in each capital city to raise awareness and lobby the government to support an NDIS ( National Disability Insurance Scheme).
The easiest way to think about it or explain it seems in relation to the TAC here in Australia.
For example if you are driving home from the birthing unit at the hospital with a neutotypical brand new baby and are involved in an accident which then sees that child with a brain injury, their needs are met through the TAC insurance , their life is covered in the sense of therapy, equipment and general well being.
Go back a few hours to when the baby was born and something went wrong during the birthday process or in utero or genetically and they have a brain injury then they are not covered for their lifetime of support needs/therapy and equipment.
For example when Cooper needed a power wheelchair for indpendence and for access it took over 14 months to obtain. We had to wait for funding and approval and then fundraise the gap between what the government covered and the price that the manufacturer charged.
So we headed into the city of Melbourne to support people and their families living with disability for whatever reason and with whatever type.
First of all we all wore red. We all stood out.
Arriving at the main train station in Melbourne was in my eyes very overwhelming. I knew there were lots of different types of disabilities, I knew the numbers where high, but all in one spot, this was highlighted immensely. One tiny lift on each platform would only fit 2 power chairs so the queue was huge!
It was very overwhelming for me seeing parents with their adult children and it just cements the fact that disability is forever and independent living is very far out of ours and Coopers reach.
Cooper loved seeing all the powerchairs and zoomed around Federation square confidently checking everyone out!
We caught up with and met some beautiful families that have been an amazing support to me online and in person for the last few years.
Cooper then did a presentation at school about the rally, educating his classmates, and that is what is so fantastic about having a child with a disability in a mainstream environment. Everyone wins.
Cooper counts. Go and support the NDIS.
7 comments:
Awesome work educating your classmates Cooper!!
I am all caught up on your life-after-Facebook blog posts now - although of course seeing you on Monday meant I know you definitely still exist:-). But great to see such lovely happy photos of you all and to be reminded of how great blogging is . I promise to be a better blogger too. Starting tomorrow. And I look forward to SEEING you really soon xxx
OH and a belated super HAPPY BIRTHDAY for yesterday xxx. 4.3am starts have me struggling by evening time so didn't get to wish it to you yesterday. Hope you got spoilt rotten and I hope I can take you out for a birthday lunch in the next few weeks x
I should of known you would go to the rally!! Would have loved to have met you and your gorgeous family! It was a pretty chaotic day tho and the kids turned grumpy and tired by the time the band came on So it would of been rushed anyway ;)
I was there in spirit thinking of you all on the day. I love the photos, what a positive and eye opening experience for your and your family. And hopefully the city too! For us to think about moving to OZ, we need NDIS. Although its too cold in Canada, we do get some good support for equipment and therapy, although the wait for the latter was a year...anyways. I love that Cooper gave a presentation at school about it. So awesome.
Well done all of you. Gosh, all the rallies sound amazing. Wish we'd been there
Thanks for enlightening me, I didn't know about this. I've signed up on the NDIS site. Hope you get the support you need!
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