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How has the NDIS changed participation, inclusion and independence for people with a disability? Dr Tammy Aplin, Editorial Board Member, Australian Occupational Therapy Journal
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Photo: ©gettyimages /portishead1
he Occupational Therapy week theme of participation, inclusion and independence celebrates our core role of supporting people to engage in activities they find meaningful. Reflecting on this theme, I wanted to explore how the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has impacted the participation, inclusion and independence of those we support. The Australian Occupational Therapy Journal has published a few articles describing participants’ perceptions and experiences of the NDIS. Many in the profession were hopeful that the NDIS would enable occupational therapists to more easily and flexibly support people towards a meaningful life, with choice and control. Eight years on what has transpired from the marketdriven scheme may not be what we had hoped, but there have been some positive changes, along with hope for the future.
10 otaus.com.au
One significant change in the participation of people with a disability, has been the enhanced or new role of “informed consumer”. For some this change from passive recipient to active consumer was welcome, creating freedom to choose providers who would meet their needs best1. However, research with participants of the NDIS suggests this role can also be onerous, complex, time consuming and at its worst exclusionary. Adult participants and potential participants of the NDIS identified the need to be knowledgeable of the NDIS system and the services and
