Anyone started with the NDIS?

[eth]

It looks like I'll have support workers from 3 different organisations in the early days.  One of the challenges is having to take them when they're available and then trying to find activities that are on during those time slots.  I spent ages looking for activities in the community for Sunday afternoon and the best I can come up with so far is touristy things or going for walks.

The CoS says just to get started with them whenever they are available and hope that their available times change.

[eth]

I thought some of  you might like these quotes from Flourish about recovery :

"Recovery is about developing a hope-filled approach in one's life while living with a mental health issue".  (In the context of life-long psychosocial disability not being at odds with 'recovery')..... "... addressing and working to overcome the functional impairments experienced so you can move towards achieving goals and live a life that has meaning for you..."...."...social inclusion and having the resources, opportunities and capabilities to learn, work, engage in the community and have a contributing life and a voice in a future of your choice...".

[Tight-Control]

Hi All,

I live with Bi-polar and also work for a NGO helping people connect with the NDIS.

I treied to read through the 58 pages of this but couldnt do it .

So here is 2 great tips for things for getting on and for including in your plan.

ACESS REQUEST HAVE TIME LIMIT usually 21 days from them  posting you a letter , you have to call the NDIS for an access request form.

For getting acess have all your medical evidence ready Diagnosis and ALL medical diagnosis including physiacl iassues you may have.

The NDIS focuses on the FUNCTIONAL IMPACT of your illness/es and how this prevents or hindes you form reaching your goals.

So you need Goals and well above and beyond diagnosis the impact of how your illness/es stop you getting their .

ONCE ON PLANNING:

You can have SUPPORT CORDINATION built in to your plan especially early on or if circumstance including goals change . This coordination assists you in putting your plan into action finding providers both NDIS approved and everyday providers to actaully deliver suppors.

You can also ask for a PLAN MANAGER. This has to be NDIS approved provider they are esentially your accountant who can access the protal and pay your providers for you they monitor all of that.

These two very important roles can really assist in helping you get the most out of your plan , they can be funded on top of your plan BUT only if you ask. they do not take money out ofyour plan.

How do I know this . I am a SUPPORT COORDINATOR..

Good luck all , get help initially and you can really get benifits from NDIS.

[eth]

Hi and thanks for your input @Tight-Control.   I also have bipolar 1 as well as complex PTSD and my functions are affected in most of the categories.

I have both a plan manager and a coordinator of supports.  They do use some of my NDIS package funds, but are funded in separate categories (both under Capacity Building).  The bulk of my package is Core funding and will fund support workers to work with me and help me achieve my goals.  I also have a transport allowance and funding for travel training and weekly psychology.  The last one means so much to me as I can do a form of therapy (EMDR) I wouldn't otherwise be able to do with just the mental health care plan 10 sessions per year.

[eth]

More support worker hours starting next week - Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday mid morn til late afternoon, and the Sunday afternoon.  Now I just have to come up with activities to do with them.  Yes it means much more chance for community involvement, health and well being stuff and travel training, but it's been forever that I've never had this kind of support and I kinda don't know what to do with all the freedom, if that makes sense.

There's the obvious grocery and other shopping, chemist, and essential appointments but that only adds up to about 6 hours a fortnight and I'll have support for 10 1/2 hours a week!  I've been telling the support workers as I meet them that one of the things I need help with is finding and planning activities so I look forward to seeing what they come up with.  I have to keep telling myself they are there to help me, it's still hard to believe.

[Tight-Control]

It sounds like you are getting some real positive benifits form the NDIS.

I have a client who is interested in becoming a local Advocate for people living with MH issues.

we are looking at doing training like Toastmasters to begin building confidence in public speaking .

The variety of options is only limited really by your imagnation. that can be a ahrd thing when you have been " limited " in the past by you own MH and services and the system.

the capacity building part is the most exciting part of the scheme I believe.

[eth]

Hi @Tight-Control  I'd also suggest some peer support training for people with lived experience of mental health challenges.  I think Flourish or MIFA might do it.  Even just being on the forums here is a good way to practice speaking up and helping others.  Here we have a local community disability alliance that does peer support too.  I want to get involved with them but their times are not when I can get support to get there.  Something for the future I guess.

[eth]

Yesterday I met and went shopping with the new support worker who will do Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday with me and I quite liked her.  She's older than all the others, which is what I asked for, and it seems like she could be better at helping me progress my goals in some ways.  Or maybe it's just that I might be more responsive to being advised and helped by someone a little older than me.  So now I have a team! 

[eth]

Good news : this latest sw has both cert IV and diploma in MH support work on top of life experience.  Just what I've been looking for.   Had a big but good day with her yesterday including psychologist and checking out the Flourish drop-in centre and a cafe hit.  And good conversation throughout.  She's a good listener.

[eth]

Hi @STORMGRL101  I just saw your post on another thread.  My plan came through only 2 days after my planning meeting but i've never heard of it being that quick for anyone else in the fb groups I'm in about Mental Health and the NDIS.  I wish for you that it comes through soon.  Mine might have been so fast because I had a disability advocate and a legal aid solicitor on my case (that the da got for me).  Maybe it's time for you to get a da too - google disability advocates - they're in every state and are free of cost, as was the solicitor they got me.  mind you this all happened in the last 3 months or so of a 1 1/2 year battle to get NDIS funded.  I was all prepared for an AAT hearing when NDIS conceded and approved me.   This thread chronicles my journey since first application in Feb last year and there is a lot of good info in it.