#Disability Services

[cy-cyborg]

Big vent about Centrelink and Australia’s welfare system ahead.

I’ve known for a long time how cold and uncaring Australia’s welfare system is, especially Centrelink, but I don’t think it really clicked until today.

Im on the disability support pension meaning the government acknowledges I can not work full time. A few years ago, I messed up on some forms and never declared to them that my partner and I were in a relationship. I had meant to, but had a moment and forgot to hand them in. By the time I realised my mistake it was years later. Just before Christmas I went in to fix it and to get help with the forms because I always panic when I do Centrelink forms, I always miss something or misunderstand, I always do something wrong, so this time I went in for help with it. My partner and my support worker came with me to help make sure I was understanding everything, and to make sure I remember what they told me, because I tend to forget more when stressed.

Because my partner is an immigrant and self employed but not earning much, the process actually ended up being a bit more complicated so we’ve had to go in to do the forms over multiple appointments with the last one being last Thursday.

I was informed that because I didn’t declare the relationship right away, I’ve been overpaid and I’ll have to give that overpay amount back because, fun fact, just being in a relationship is enough for them to cut your payments here - not being married, just in a relationship. I knew that though and was prepared for it. At the last appointment I was finally given an estimate of how much I need to pay back.

It’s over $20,000.

I’m not entirely sure how they got that number, I’m going to ask for a break down of it once the amount is confirmed, but you want to know what sucks? I was relieved to hear that amount. I was mentally prepared for it to be double or triple that, and it would have been if the worker at the office didn’t pull me up and inform me I’d misunderstood some of the questions (so yeah, going in for help was a good call). Thankfully, because the disability support pension is already below the poverty line even before the cuts they made, I don’t have to pay it back at once, they’ll take a percentage of my pension out every fortnight to pay it back. Unfortunately, because I’m already below the poverty line, reducing my pension even further means I can’t afford rent anymore, even in a place that is already way, WAY below the current rental market value, so I can’t really afford rent…anywhere. Not even in remote and regional areas (I checked). Not a single private rental in the country is low enough for us to afford now. The only ones that were close weren’t wheelchair accessible. The pension will also go down if my partner earns anything, and it limits his hours (though I don’t know how that’s supposed to work if he’s self employed since pay isn’t really based on hours like typical jobs, I’m going to ask about that at the next appointment). Thankfully we had already planned for that and we’re planning to move in with my mum, but that means basically being cut off from the internet since her place is very rural and signal doesn’t really reach their place consistently.

But the shittyness doesn’t end there, oh no.

Today, I woke up to the dreaded “you have a myGov message” text. Only to open it and for them to tell me that they’re cutting my whole disability pension, it was just canceled. No ifs or buts, it was just gone. A few days before rent and all my bills are due. What was the reason you ask? Because one of the fields (asking for my partner’s tax info) on the form wasn’t filled out… the form I got the Centrelink office to check over before handing it in, that was definitely filled in. I know it was. There wasn’t even any “we’re missing information, you have x amount of time to fix this or your payment will be cancelled” warning, it was just, you didn’t fill out this one field that could be easily fixed so your pension is canceled, and you have to pay us that $20,000 out of pocket now, bye!

Obviously rattled and confused, I went back to the office (which is only a few minutes from where I live) and asked what the hell happened, the lady who helped us last time even vouched for us and said she knows we filled that out and gave it to them, she was there, only for them to go into my file and realise the way the file had been scanned cut off part of the field, so the automated systems didn’t see it and auto-cancelled my whole pension over it. So we had to wait an additional half and hour for the office staff to argue with whoever was in charge of that decision, to let them fix it because as far as Centrelink was concerned the issue wasn’t negotiable. It did eventually get sorted, so I’m at least not loosing my pension and being forced to pay back the dept out of pocket.

My partner, before coming to Australia was in the US military, he describes his experience with them as being treated like “numbered cannon fodder” and his dealings with the VA as being treated like “a piece of dog shit on their shoes”. He fought with the Australian immigration department for years to be allowed to stay here, the department that openly and proudly discriminated against him and me for our disabilities, that insisted he jump through countless hoops for the most ridiculous of reasons to prove he “wouldn’t be a burden on the system”. But today he just sat in the car after all this and stared off into space, saying this is the worst treatment from a government agency he’s ever seen. They didn’t see us as people, we were numbers. That automated cancellation over an automated mistake would have put us on the street if my mother wasn’t in the picture and paying off $20,000 of dept out-of-pocket. And they just didn’t care. We made a mistake, yes, but it was a mistake that is in-line with the diagnostic criteria of one of my disabilities (forgetfulness from a brain injury) and we did everything we were supposed to do to make it right once I noticed. we fessed up and did what we needed to fix it, we got help from multiple staff members to ensure we did everything we were supposed to, but a machine made a mistake and nearly ruined our lives anyway.

Im not saying any of this to ask for money btw, I couldn’t accept it even if I wanted to because I’m pretty sure that would count as income too and would mean my pension would go down even more or just be cut (again) entirely. We’re safe and as stable as we could be in this situation for now. I just wanted to vent a bit and explain where I’ve been. I’m probably not going to be back online again for a bit while we get the rest of this situation sorted, and once I move to mum’s, so the messages and ask box are staying closed for a bit longer.

[autisticmind]

Do you guys ever feel so much sudden rage at society for failing to provide the bare minimum support you needed/need to survive/thrive that you have to actually time. out. your mind for a while to calm down????

[not-a-medical-student]

Photo from ECAD

Important information for those not familiar with service dogs:

Don't touch or pet without permission.

Do not remove a service dog from a passed out person, even if they are resting on top of them. That may be the dog’s job during an episode, so just call an ambulance.

Do not let children pet service dogs without permission, It's usually best to tell them you shouldn't pet at all because the dog is at work.

Emotional support animals are not the same as service dogs and are not medically necessary.

Any dog that sits in a shopping cart or purse is not a service dog.

There are idiots out there who fake service dogs, but don't accuse people of faking if you don't know how training is done.

Although service dogs are well trained, their work can be interfered with by loud noises and especially untrained, faked service or emotional support dogs being in spaces expected to only allow service dogs and no other animals. This is especially prevalent in Walmart and other public spaces.

Service dogs are still dogs, if you see one in public with someone it's best to leave the dog alone completely. Even merely making eye contact with the dog can distract it and cause him or her to miss something important. Dogs are very susceptible to human eye contact, it's in their DNA.

And of course don't try to feed them or talk to them while they are on duty.

ALSO

Some service dogs are trained to smell or otherwise detect specific disorders and alert their human in any number of ways. For example, if someone with diabetes blood sugar is too low/high, their dog can smell that and may alert them by laying their head on the human's foot. If a service dog does it's alert to you or anyone who is not the owner of the dog, you should go to the doctor to get checked out because it's possible it's a real alert that the dog sensed in you.

Thank you doggies!

[chatdomestique]

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but Doordash, Instacart, and similar services are disability services, and if you choose (because it is a choice) to become a delivery driver, you are expected to accommodate for a wide variety a needs, which (and I can’t believe I have to say this) includes entering apartment buildings and walking up stairs.

The customer is not obligated to accommodate you; you are obligated to accommodate them.

[autisticlee]

so many services that can help with disability or medical needs are based on progress and working to make you not need them. why are they so against long term/life long help and management?!

for example, i need PT but for life. my hypermibility won't magically be better after a month of PT. doing it alone at home always results in injuring myself because no one corrects me doing wrong things. stopping doesn't help either. but there's no service for long term or life!!!! only private trainers that want thousands of dollars a month. another example is I need a case manager to help me do phone calls and make appointments but you need to call to make an appointment to get. you need to listen to a long list of info and provide your info over the phone. what if you can't do that? out of luck I guess (I only got their email because my therapist called and asked them for it for me. it's not available on their website)

good health is a luxury for the rich and disability services are only accessible for the abled. it sucks.

[bookquotesfrombooks]

“Doctors hold positions of power and dominance over the people in their care. They are gatekeepers of services, medications, and information. Their credentials grant them the authority to make life-or-death decisions, and their directives often go unquestioned. With that power comes great responsibility, so my expectations are uncompromising.”

Meghan Ashburn

I Will Die On This Hill

[chronic-chronic]

I am soon going to send my application to the city's disability services. I hope it'll be approved and I'll get transportation!

[thedashproject]

[ccarehomeaus]

Our NDIS Disability Support services provide tailored assistance to enhance independence and well-being.

[cy-cyborg]

So, right before Christmas I got some good news in the NDIS front.

Turns out they DID recognise my non-physical disabilities when this funding plan started, but just...didnt tell me... or anyone else. It still says my only disability is amputation due to meningococcol on everything I have and all the paperwork, but apparently they have my documents saying that i have "very clear but unspecified cognative and developmental difficulties" (my origonal "diagnosis" if you could call it that) so my Local Area Cordinator says they've acknowledged it on their end and agreed to help with it.

Why didn't anyone realise any of this? Since that should mean I have funding to support those disabilities in my plan?

Turns out the answer is just that my plan is REALLY fucking weird. Outside of my LAC, no one ive spoken to has seen anything like it, Something about the way it's structured is really bizarre, which is why my prosthetist, wheelchair maker and other providers had so much trouble getting paid last year: the category they usually take their payment from for 99% of their clients doesn't exist in my plan. I had the funding, but it was somewhere else, and no one told me how to get it because they thought I already knew. None of this was helped that I never got a copy of my plan myself until the advocate pushed for it. Apparently, someone was supposed to tell me all of this and explain it all, but I suspect that didn't happen because this plan started during the later Covid lockdowns, and everything was chaos.

So good news, I have funding to get help with daily tasks and other stuff that im struggling with relating to my non-physical disabilities. A lot actually. Over 2 years worth of funding.

Bad news though, Whatever's left over at the end of this plan period - 4 or 5 months from now - will be used to judge weather I actually need that funding or not. When the plan renews, if it's not all used, they might determine I didn't need it after all, and they are cracking down on this type of funding so they're unlikely to accept "I didn't know I had it".

That's a problem for after new-years though. Right now I'm just happy I don't have to spend several more months jumping through beurocratic hoops for the NDIS just to get some help. Well, any more than I already had to, lol.

Now I can focus on dealing with centrelink next year instead... yay...

ID: a gif of someone running across a field. the caption says: "[screaming]" /end Id

[softcaredisability]

Discover Excellence in NDIS Services with Softcare Disability Services in Penrith

Are you looking for a reliable NDIS service provider in Penrith? Softcare Disability Services is here to support you! Our dedicated team offers a wide range of personalized services tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals living with disabilities.

At Softcare, we prioritize your well-being and independence. Our experienced professionals provide assistance with daily living activities, community participation, skill development, and more. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment that empowers individuals to achieve their goals.

[sowilo1]

The Role of an NDIS Disability Service Provider

Many people with disabilities experience barriers to accessing quality ndis disability service provider. These obstacles can be complex and may vary from person to person.

Choosing the right NDIS service provider is a critical decision. A good provider will prioritize a person-centred approach and provide tailored services that are aligned with your goals and lifestyle preferences.

Eligibility

The NDIS is a national scheme that offers individualised support for people with disabilities. Its goals include empowering participants and increasing their independence. However, it can be challenging to navigate the system and understand its structure. Various aspects of NDIS require understanding, from governance and participant access to pricing arrangements and business insurance.

To be eligible for the NDIS, you must have a permanent and significant impairment that affects your everyday life. This could be physical, intellectual, cognitive, or psychosocial. You also need to be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or a protected special category visa holder.

In addition to providing a wide range of disability services supports, the NDIS offers respite services and counselling for families and carers. This support network helps families and carers manage their responsibilities and maintain their own well-being. It also encourages a holistic approach to disability care. Allied health professionals like physiotherapists and speech therapists work closely with NDIS participants to provide the required therapies.

Personalized support

Personalized support is one of the core pillars of the NDIS. It is designed to empower participants by allowing them to select their own providers and the types of supports they require, giving them a greater sense of control over their lives. This is accomplished by implementing strategies that promote independence and active participation in the community.

NDIS participants must develop a personalized plan that lists their desired outcomes and the various supports they need to pursue them. A good NDIS service provider can help with this process by creating a plan that meets the participant’s needs and goals. They can also assist with coordinating supports and services, ensuring that they work together seamlessly.

When selecting an NDIS service provider, it’s important to look at the qualifications and experience of their staff. It’s also a good idea to review their feedback from previous clients. This will help you make an informed decision about whether they are the right fit for your needs.

Collaborative approach

A collaborative approach is key to delivering high-quality disability support services. This model allows providers to leverage their collective expertise and resources while promoting continuous improvement in the sector. It also helps them build a more inclusive society, which is the cornerstone of the NDIS.

Many NDIS participants require a variety of services from allied health professionals, including physiotherapists and speech therapists. This can be a challenge for NDIS service providers. They must work closely with these allied health professionals to deliver the necessary therapies and other support services that are outlined in the participant’s plan.

NDIS service providers must also remain compliant with changing regulations and standards in the sector. This can be difficult, especially for smaller service providers with limited resources. Another challenge is ensuring that their staff members have the right qualifications and experience to deliver high-quality services. Finally, they must regularly seek feedback from their clients and invest in training to improve their skills.

Responsiveness

NDIS service providers play a critical role in the NDIS scheme, providing participants with expert guidance, coordination, and advocacy. They help participants overcome challenges and elevate their overall quality of life. They also work with allied health professionals to ensure that their clients receive holistic care.

In addition, NDIS service providers are required to understand the various disability types and categories. This knowledge allows them to tailor their services to meet the

needs of each participant. They must also be aware of the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and adhere to them when setting their charges.

NDIS providers should be responsive and ready to answer any questions that participants may have. They should be willing to meet with prospective clients and provide detailed information about their NDIS plans. They should also have a robust client support system, ensuring that participants are able to reach their goals and aspirations. Moreover, they should also be committed to thwarting any misuse of NDIS funds.

[bethelds]

Bethel Disability Services: Providing Exceptional Disability Services in Mayfield, NSW

When it comes to finding reliable and compassionate disability services in Mayfield, NSW, Bethel Disability Services is here to help. We believe that everyone deserves access to the support they need to lead a fulfilling, independent life. Whether you require assistance with daily activities, healthcare needs, or community participation, we offer personalized services that are designed to empower individuals with disabilities to reach their full potential.

What Are Disability Services?

Disability services are programs and support options aimed at assisting individuals with disabilities in managing everyday tasks, improving their quality of life, and engaging in their communities. These services can range from help with personal care and mobility to therapy, transport, and social support. Disability services play a vital role in promoting independence, well-being, and inclusion for people with disabilities, enabling them to lead active and meaningful lives.

In Australia, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has been a game-changer, providing funding for disability services and allowing people to access a wide range of support tailored to their specific needs. Bethel Disability Services is proud to be an NDIS-registered provider, helping participants navigate their plans and access the services they are entitled to.

Why Choose Bethel Disability Services?

Personalized, Person-Centered Care

At Bethel Disability Services, we believe that one size does not fit all. Each person has unique needs and goals, and that's why we take a person-centered approach to our disability services. We work closely with you and your family to create a personalized care plan that reflects your individual preferences and aspirations. Whether you need help with personal care, therapy, community activities, or anything in between, we ensure that your support is tailored to what matters most to you.

Experienced, Compassionate Team

Our team of experienced and dedicated professionals is at the heart of everything we do. We are passionate about providing high-quality care and support, and we go above and beyond to ensure that our clients receive the attention and assistance they deserve. Each member of our team is highly trained, understanding, and committed to making a positive difference in the lives of the people we serve. With Bethel Disability Services, you can trust that you're in capable hands.

NDIS-Registered Provider

As an NDIS-registered provider, we adhere to the rigorous standards set by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). This ensures that the disability services we provide are of the highest quality and meet strict safety and compliance regulations. Our team will work with you to ensure that you are using your NDIS funding effectively, helping you access the services that will best support your goals and needs.

Local Expertise and Support

Based in Mayfield, NSW, Bethel Disability Services is proud to serve the local community and surrounding areas. We have a deep understanding of the needs of people with disabilities in our region and are committed to providing accessible, reliable, and tailored support. Being a local provider allows us to be responsive and flexible, offering personalized care that is close to home.

The Range of Disability Services We Offer

At Bethel Disability Services, we offer a wide range of services designed to support individuals with disabilities in all areas of their lives. Some of the key services we provide include:

Personal Care Assistance: Help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and grooming, to ensure you can maintain your independence and dignity.

Transport Services: Assistance with getting to appointments, social activities, and community events.

Therapy Services: Access to physical, occupational, and speech therapy to improve your overall health and well-being.

Community Participation: Encouragement and support to help you engage with your community, build social connections, and participate in recreational activities.

Support Coordination: Assistance with managing your NDIS plan and connecting with other services in the community.

How to Get Started with Bethel Disability Services

Getting started with Bethel Disability Services is simple. If you or a loved one requires disability services in Mayfield or the surrounding areas, our team is here to assist you. To learn more about our services or to discuss your specific needs, give us a call at (02) 4001 0550. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have and guide you through the process of accessing the support you need.

Contact Bethel Disability Services Today

When you choose Bethel Disability Services, you are choosing a trusted partner who is committed to delivering exceptional disability services tailored to your needs. Our team is ready to support you every step of the way, helping you achieve your goals and live the life you deserve. Contact us today at (02) 4001 0550 to find out how we can help you access the disability services that will make a difference in your life.

Bethel Disability Services – empowering people with disabilities to live independently and confidently.

[polarviewresourcesinc]

Providing high-quality care for individuals with diverse needs is essential for fostering independence and personal growth. Developmental disabilities care in Maryland focuses on personalized approaches that respect each person’s unique challenges and strengths. By tailoring care plans to individual needs, caregivers ensure that individuals can navigate daily activities, develop essential skills, and achieve meaningful goals. These plans are created with input from families, professionals, and the individuals themselves to provide comprehensive support.

[felix-jake]

How Caring Arms Improves Mental Health and Well-being through Disability Support Services in Central Coast, NSW

Many needs are catered for by different disability support services in Central Coast, NSW, ranging from basic physical aid up to social inclusion. While many support services focus on the provision of physical care, mental health and wellbeing are important in improving the quality of life of any person with disability. Many people with disabilities face mental-related problems while developing. A good example of care providers for a person with any form of disability is Caring Arms, a well-known provision of a disability service offered in the region of Central Coast. This facility not only deals with physical caring but specializes with care that raises the mental or emotional well-being of a child.

Caring Arms recognizes that disability care is not just assisting people with their daily needs but also enabling them to lead meaningful and purposeful lives, which includes their mental health requirements. This paper explores the different ways Caring Arms assists people in mental health and wellbeing by giving them the skills and equipment that help people live life with confidence, resilience, and self-esteem.

Comprehensive Approach to Disability Support

Caring Arms takes a look into an integrative methodology regarding services for the disability where it will support not just their medical and care issues but also social and psychological activities that ensure each activity is brought back into mental wellness. Help in a wide sense of terms doesn't just depend on the satisfaction of physical, care, and treatment needs to one's well-being. It accepts care for oneself-physically and medically through treating medical maladies, being responsive to each day's new aspects, psychically through one's social psyche.

But for people with disabilities, mental health issues are very much complicated by such problems as isolation or inaccessible services or the difficulties of accessing the right therapies and support. Care Arms is a supportive environment that provides real mental health support in conjunction with everyday disability services and allows clients to work through the pressures of daily living and build up resilience and grow in self-esteem.

Promotion of Social Inclusion and Avoidance of Isolation

For persons with disabilities, social isolation is one of the most paramount factors affecting mental health. They get into problems that limit their interaction with the community, resulting in loneliness and depression with low self-esteem. Breaking these barriers of social inclusion through Caring Arms will assist them in forming relationships within their support team and then with the community at large.

Social experience and community participation are made available to the client through individualized service plans under Caring Arms, based on their interest and ability. This kind of activity, whether in a park on a walk or attending a social group or helping out with volunteering, is incredibly important in regards to mental health. It reconnects people with the community. Caring Arms makes disability people feel that they belong because most people suffering from disabilities are lonely.

Social inclusion thus ends up working in such a manner that makes the individual feel valued, respected, and integrated into society. In addition, emotional wellbeing is improved; thus, there are increased social skills development among clients, more confidence, and a sense of purpose in engaging in practices with such a program.

Individual support and counseling

Apart from community engagement, Caring Arms provides individual counseling and support for people with disability to empower them to be capacitated for self-management of their mental conditions. Most of the people affected by disability face some emotional stress such as refusing the disability condition, adapting to loss of movement and cognitive capability, and problems arising in day-to-day situations. Counseling service delivered by Caring Arms deals with specific issues about such emotional and psychological stresses.

Caring Arms are designed with the specialized instruction in providing empathetic non-judgmental assistance so that clients are provided with a safe and open environment in which they can freely express their feelings and concerns. Support workers at Caring Arms make sure that the mental health, in addition to the physical, is taken care of by providing a listening ear, helping people work through troublesome emotions, and guiding them in developing coping strategies.

Counseling can improve a person's thought patterns, calm emotions, and develop mental resilience. In this regard, Caring Arms assists its clients through tools that manage anxiety, depression, and other psychological conditions in an atmosphere of empathy and compassion.

Mindfulness and Stress-Relief Activities

Such programs that Caring Arms offers include mindfulness and stress-reduction activities. Most people with a disability have potential stressors involved in their daily living activities, visiting medical facilities for treatment, or experiences with the problems that characterize the disability service delivery. Most of such stressors negatively impact mental wellness, but mindfulness can be able to mitigate such effects.

The support workers of Caring Arms engage clients in several stress reduction activities including deep breathing exercises, meditation, and relaxation activities that provide an individual with self-soothing and mood-enhancing capabilities as well as improve self-understanding. Generally, the practice of mindfulness assists people in getting attention on current aspects of reality to minimize excessive thoughts disturbing the head if a person hasn't been able to focus or even appears to demonstrate depressive symptoms.

Relieving the tension will assist in improving both mental and, therefore overall well-being, which is also soothing, letting loose tension, and gives one an overall sense of calm. Caring arms realize that in many cases mental health goes hand-in-hand with one's physical well-being, hence these tools arm the person pretty well to overcome any obstacles from a good and healthy mental angle.

Boosting Confidence and Self-Esteem

Low self-esteem and lack of confidence are the most important barriers to mental health for many disabled people. Disability can lead people to feel low in their self-esteem, ashamed, or frustrated when dealing with the stigma of society or when things do not go as expected in life. Caring Arms builds up the confidence and self-esteem of its clients by making them achieve personal goals however small they may be.

Caring Arms helps the clients to feel proud of themselves and their capabilities by assisting them in education, employment, or personal development. The best way to create confidence in a person is by giving him autonomy and self-reliance. For instance, a support worker may assist a client in acquiring new skills like cooking, budgeting, or public transport, which allow them to gain control over their daily life and enhance their independence.

This process helps an individual develop a sense of worth, reduces feelings of helplessness or frustration, and helps build resilience. Empowerment is key for mental health in terms of building resilience against challenges.

Family and peer support

Caring Arms recognizes that family support and peer networks impact the support for good mental health. For an individual with disabilities to feel emotionally secure and empowered, he needs a good working family support system. Therefore, Caring Arms operates together with families to ensure that they take an active role in the care process while sharing resources on how best to assist in supporting their family members' mental health needs.

The second advantage is the peer support because Caring Arms facilitates persons with disabilities to befriend others facing similar circumstances. The peer support groups are a very convenient avenue where persons can share their stories, seek advice, and get emotional support. Such relationships most likely reduce the feeling of loneliness and give a sense of belonging while adding another layer of mental and emotional care.

Conclusion

Caring Arms pride themselves on delivering disability support services in Central Coast, NSW: addressing physical wellbeing and at the same time keeping mental health and emotional wellbeing with social inclusion-one-to-one support and counseling. This integrates techniques that can alleviate stress while working with the clients to increase confidence and self-esteem so they might use all of these as their tool and resources for a total and mentally healthy life.

Though it is an enhancement for general wellbeing, it really sets the individual to be ready in overcoming adversity and more resistant. Caring Arms has changed persons with disability at Central Coast, NSW through the holistic approach being compassionate to reach their full potential and foster positive mental health and wellbeing.