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Friday, 30 May, 2014
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NDIS left me helpless MS victim’s nightmare of red tape By NOEL MURPHY GROVEDALE MS sufferer Rob Goodman thought the new National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) would at least preserve the services and assistance she was already receiving. But its red tape jungle removed the support, leaving her distressed, depressed and fearful for her future. “I have no family, partner or carer support but was fortunate to begin receiving support from a state-funded agency here in Geelong in 2002,” Ms Goodman told the Independent. “I was very well cared for and felt a sense of security, which I naively thought would continue until the NDIS trial was set up in Geelong.” Ms Goodman said she lost the support after a raft of meetings to develop an NDIS personal plan left her exhausted and anxious. “I was barely able to comprehend the extent to which my services had been slashed.” Ms Goodman has lost services included respite, massage therapy, gym and swimming pool memberships, household assistance, access to carers, three free meals a week and internet connection for communication with health providers. “But under the NDIS I now receive eight taxi trips a year, even though I’m still able to drive, as well as some help with gardening, an extra hour of home help per fortnight, which I currently don’t require, and three pre-prepared meals a week at a cost of $6, subsidised by NDIS.” Ms Goodman argued “many logical and well-thought-out reasons” against the changes but received a “standard reply” that many of her previous services were outside NDIS guidelines. Continued page 5
WORSE OFF: MS victim Rob Goodman has lost support services since participating in the NDIS Picture: REG RYAN trial. 120981
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