Why the National Disability Insurance Agency needs to apply common sense, says mum

Common sense is lacking when it comes to decisions about NDIS plans, leaving families at breaking point, argues Julie Cross.

Opinion: I interviewed Annette Andersen this week. Her story is tragic.

She lives with her 20-year-old non-verbal autistic son Axel who has the developmental age of a toddler.

She loves him dearly, but she’s also scared of him.

And she has the bruises to prove why.

She says the police, who have attended the home a number of times following domestic violence, wanted to take out a violence order against Axel, until they realised he had no idea of the concept of ‘police’ let alone an understanding of what the order meant.

Where is the support, you might be wondering?

Well, the National Disability Insurance Agency has awarded him a generous plan - $550,000 a year.

The money is for shared out-of-home accommodation and carers.

Axel Andersen, 20, has severe autism and an intellectual disability. His Mum Annette Andersen (pictured) is struggling to care for him, who has the developmental age of a toddler.

His mum believes this option won’t work, that he will be a danger to the other participant - noise, an accidental touch, or a change in room temperature can set him off.

She questions how another high-needs NDIS participant is meant to understand her son’s sensitivities. She also predicts that him being in such a situation will result in him smashing up the property - although the agency would argue their accommodation is specifically built to be “robust”.

A previous attempt at shared accommodation when he was 13 resulted in his health deteriorating and him coming home.

Camera footage of one of Axel's episodes, provided by the family. SUPPLIED

Added to these concerns is the fact that the nearest vacancy for shared accommodation is 250 kms away and being apart from his family upsets him.

Annette wants the common sense solution. A granny flat in her garden, with room for a carer.

She is currently getting yet another specialist to write a report in the hope Axel will qualify for a single resident accommodation. She’s already submitted multiple reports which detail his violent outbursts and confirms she is suffering from carer burnout.

If as a society we accept that we have to pay for special cases like Axel, then we have to be prepared to accept that it costs money, lots of it. It’s the job of the agency to ensure it is spent wisely.

Yes, there needs to be robust checks and balances, and it’s important to get the opinion of specialists, but we also need to apply some common sense, and listen to people who know them best, and quite often that’s mum.

Originally published as Why the National Disability Insurance Agency needs to apply common sense, says mum