Toowoomba man Michael Cooper calls out NDIA after funding for guide dog cut

For five years, Michael Cooper’s independence was guaranteed by his guide dog. However, just three days before Vision Australia was due to start training a replacement pup, the NDIA decided he no longer needed one and cut his funding.

To read a text message, Michael Cooper must hold his phone about 10cm from his right eye.

When it is sunny outside he can’t see traffic, and he must carefully plan his route if he wants to go shopping or visit a friend.

The Toowoomba Muay Thai trainer suffers from corneal keratoconus – a condition where his cornea degrades.

Michael Cooper is disgusted with the NDIA after he lost funding for a guide dog after his last dog was retired, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Despite five cornea grafts Mr Cooper has lost all sight in his left eye, and he knows that one day his right eye will go dark.

“I have good eye days and bad eye days, but I give thanks to God for every day that I wake up and still see,” he said.

For the past five years Mr Cooper’s life has been greatly assisted by his guide dog Cody.

That faithful pup gave him independence, made him safe while he was at the shops, and provided comfort and companionship when his anxiety and depression took hold.

But just three days before Vision Australia was due to start training Cody’s replacement, the National Disability Insurance Agency cut funding for his guide dog.

Emails from the NDIA obtained by The Chronicle show an unnamed assessor found Mr Cooper no longer met the requirements to have a dog.

The assessment said Mr Cooper should instead make use of cheaper options, such as a walking stick.

The statement added Mr Cooper had a guide dog for more than four years, and in that time his funding needs increased.

The assessment said the guide dog was a duplication of services, stating Mr Cooper needed support workers for core activities, including transport.

This decision came about despite steps already being made to secure Mr Cooper a new guide dog.

Michael Cooper is disgusted with the NDIA after he lost funding for a guide dog after his last dog was retired, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The emails obtained by The Chronicle show Vision Australia had identified a dog and training was due to start just three days before the NDIA cut funding.

Vision Australia came to Mr Cooper’s defence, saying that close to five years with a guide dog had improved his wellbeing, his mobility and his engagement with the community.

The email from Vision Australia to the NDIA stated that it considered Mr Cooper suitable for a guide dog.

“Ultimately, Michael has met the reasonable and necessary criteria once before, it’s baffling that a few years later, he no longer does despite a positive working relationship,” the Vision Australia email states.

Michael Cooper said the point of the NDIA was to help people with disabilities maintain their independence and quality of life but he is concerned for his future after it cut funding for his guide dog.

To add to the insult, the National Disability Insurance Scheme still hosts an article on its website holding up Mr Cooper and his former guide dog Cody as a case study for the scheme’s success.

Mr Cooper was also at a loss to explain the decision, saying he did not understand how he could work with a dog for five years and have his eyesight decline but then somehow not be suitable for a replacement.

It has been six months since Cody left, and in that time Mr Cooper’s anxiety and depression has spiked.

“Cody worked bloody hard for a dog,” he said.

“He learnt new things that weren’t part of his training, we’d go camping together, kayaking together.

“We did everything together.

“But since he’s retired, I have gone backwards.”

Michael Cooper was the first person in Australia to receive NDIS funding for his guide dog, Cody, seen here kayaking.

Mr Cooper has also broken four walking sticks.

“I don’t venture far from my home now without my partner and I don’t go to crowded places like shopping centres,” he said.

“I feel like the people making these funding decisions have never been in the seat working with people like me.

“For the most part the NDIA has been really good but up until that one phone call with the assessor, all the interaction about me and my care, was never discussed with me.”

Mr Cooper has funding for support workers but said he wanted the guide dog so he could savour what independence he had left before his vision was totally gone, and his world goes dark.

“The NDIA asked everyone else, but not once did I have a call asking me how I felt about it,” he said.

Vision Australia’s director government relations, advocacy, NDIS and aged care declined to comment on the matter directly, but added he was aware of participants being denied funding for guide dogs.

“Vision Australia has raised these matters with the NDIA and we are in ongoing consultation with NDIA and are keen to see a simplified process that will make it easier for NDIS participants to access funding for seeing eye dogs and other dog guides in the near future,” he said.

A spokeswoman for the NDIA said it was looking into the matter as a priority.

“The agency will continue to work closely with the participant to ensure the best outcome is achieved,” she said.

“The National Disability Insurance Agency’s priority remains ensuring participants and their families receive the disability-related supports they need.”