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🍑 TWO CHEEKS OF THE SAME ARSE 🍑 (borrowing a term from a recent InnovationAus.com on the topic of technology). The whole disability community has been gaslighted and manipulated. The Coalition and ALP are two cheeks of the same arse. This detailed analysis by Rick Morton drawing on shocking connections with #RoboDebt, also shows the rampant power of the bureaucracy - and an absolute lack of any innovative thought - serving up and re-serving a vile soup of bigotry, dressed up as reform - because bureaucrats cannot contemplate disabled people, their families and advocates actually know far more about legislation, human rights, technology, design. And have far-reaching insights into the human condition and innovation. Please, spare us more make-work taskforces. The term #CoDesign has been politically weaponised by vested interests, and turned against the disability community for pure political reasons. More to come on this. Brilliant commentary from Cat Walker and Uli Cartwright. Legends. And from yesterday, don't miss this MASSIVE story - the evidence for a #RoyalCommission into #RoboNDIS is piling up: 🤖 "Decoding the algorithmic operations of Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme" 🤖 👇 👇 👇 https://lnkd.in/dYHRra3k #NDIA #NDIS #RoboNDIS #RoyalCommission #ClassAction #BillShorten Mark Toomey Tony Ridley, MSc CSyP FSyI SRMCP Mark Sweeney Samantha Connor Nick Avery Graham Taylor Karen Kline Tara Hannon Muriel Cummins Georgia van Toorn Terry Carney AO Shirley Humphris https://lnkd.in/dFdv37_M Vinod Ralh Anthony Albanese Jordon Steele-John David Pocock James Riley Gordon de Brouwer InnovationAus.com The Mandarin Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) https://lnkd.in/dUZgkF7n

It's clear that the National Disability Insurance Agency is touting "economic participation" as the golden ticket to societal inclusion and prosperity. But beneath the surface lies a stark reality where the promises of meaningful engagement often amount to little more than empty rhetoric. While NDIA's focus on interventions and supports for individuals with #disabilities to access and maintain employment is undoubtedly crucial, it represents just one facet of the broader concept of economic participation. By fixating solely on employment, NDIA risks neglecting other vital components, such as entrepreneurship, investment, consumption, and #education. Economic #participation should encompass a diverse array of activities and factors, recognizing the varied experiences and circumstances that influence individuals' ability to engage meaningfully in the economy. It's not just about finding a job but also about fostering an environment where individuals can pursue entrepreneurial endeavors, make investments, consume goods and services, and access education and training opportunities. The gap between NDIA's rhetoric and the lived reality of many individuals with disabilities comparable to the Grand Canyon. #Employment opportunities often feel like checkboxes to be ticked rather than pathways to meaningful engagement. Entrepreneurship support is elusive, and empowerment initiatives seem to benefit bureaucrats more than those they aim to empower. NDIA's oversimplified understanding of economic participation fails to acknowledge the systemic barriers that prevent many individuals with disabilities from fully participating in the economy. Social and economic participation extend far beyond traditional notions of employment and leisure activities, encompassing community engagement, cultural participation, and civic involvement. In essence, NDIA must broaden its perspective on economic participation, recognizing the multifaceted nature of the concept and the diverse ways in which individuals can contribute to the economy. Only then can we bridge the gap between rhetoric and reality, ensuring that all individuals, including those with disabilities, have the opportunity to participate fully and meaningfully in society and the economy. #ndis #equity #humancapital #citizenhood

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY AND THEIR FAMILIES MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER! Investment in the capacity building of families of people with disability is critical to the reform needed across Australia if we are truly going to see a shift in the experiences of people with disability. Without appropriately targeted capacity building funding and over the longer-term many children and young people will remain on the same limiting pathway. History will continue to repeat itself. NACBO has been a critical pillar in shifting this experience through investing in families with the organisations holding combined experience spanning multiple decades with decades of positive outcomes experienced for the person with disability. This intentional work does not have a quick fix. We ask you to call on government to urgently address the ongoing support of these organisations who will now be unable to continue their critical work after June 2024. For those that have done so already - thankyou. Send an email by filling out our template at the link bellow and clicking ‘send’. Your letter will be sent to the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme of Australia Bill Shorten and Minister for Social Services of Australia Amanda Rishworth, today! https://lnkd.in/gHcZ-TN5 (We have sent 319 campaign emails, let's make it 500 by Monday!) #CriticalFundingForCapacityBuilding #NACBO

America’s disability programs are broken. To fully support disabled Americans, we should consolidate SSDI and SSI into American Disability Compensation. Read what that would entail and how it would impact U.S. in my latest report at the People's Policy Project. https://lnkd.in/edAVFzJq

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have announced a rule change that will allow veterans with disability income to qualify for federal rental assistance. Previously, veterans with monthly disability checks from the VA that exceeded income limits were denied federal housing subsidies through the HUD-VASH program. The new rule change will now count disability payments as income, allowing more disabled veterans to access the rental assistance. The article cites that a veteran with a 100% disability rating and dependents receives around $49,000 in annual disability compensation, which was previously disqualifying. The change raises the income eligibility threshold from 50% to 80% of the area median income. This policy change is crucial in helping the most disabled veterans with the greatest need access affordable housing and the supportive services provided through the HUD-VASH program. It comes after a federal court ruling that the previous policy was discriminatory. #VeteransAffairs #HousingAssistance #DisabilityIncome #HomelessVeterans #VeteransSupport

Ah, the art of throwing "sustainable" into the mix! When we talk about sustainability in the context of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), it's like promising a never-ending buffet but wondering if we can keep the food fresh and the guests happy long-term. Here’s how it shakes out: #Sustainability in the #NDIS – The Macro View On a broad scale, sustainability for the NDIS means ensuring the #system itself can keep running without hitting a financial or operational wall. It’s about making sure that funding, resources, and #policies are robust enough to support the needs of individuals with disabilities both now and in the decades to come. Think of it as making sure the buffet has enough funding to stay open, keeps its standards up, and adapits to new tastes and dietary needs over time. Sustainability for Each Individual – The Micro View Now, flipping the coin to the individual side, using "sustainable" gets a bit trickier. Here’s what it looks like: - Long-term #Support: Each person's plan should be sustainable in the sense that it supports their long-term goals & needs, not just offering quick fixes. This means building plans that grow and evolve as the individual’s needs change over time. - Personal #Development: Supports should contribute to personal growth, helping individuals to gain skills and independence wherever possible. This is about teaching folks to cook rather than just feeding them. - #Resource Allocation: Ensuring that resources are used efficiently for each person, so they get the most out of the services without wastage. No one needs three servings of pudding, but maybe an extra scoop of protein could help. - Empowerment and Autonomy: Plans should empower individuals to make their own decisions and control their support as much as possible. This promotes long-term sustainability by making individuals active participants in their care, rather than passive recipients. The Sustainability Tightrope Balancing sustainability at both these levels is like walking a tightrope while juggling—it’s all about keeping everything in the air without dropping the ball on individual needs or system-wide viability. Here’s the witty kicker: Are we building a system that truly understands and adjusts to the varying degrees of support needed over an individual's lifetime? Or are we just recycling old plans with new labels, hoping no one notices the stale taste? Ensuring sustainability for the NDIS means more than just keeping the lights on; it means lighting the way forward for every participant, making sure each path leads to empowerment and independence, not just endless dependency. Are we up for the challenge, or are we just paying lip service to sustainability while hoping for the best?

Understanding how a combined disability rating works can be complicated, but it plays a critical role in determining the benefits you receive. 💼 Every percentage matters when it comes to securing the compensation you deserve. #VeteransBenefits #DisabilityClaims #VACompensation #CombinedRating #BartlettLegal

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 The Grattan Institute recent report, 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐫, 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭, highlights significant issues within the NDIS, particularly for people with profound disabilities. The report states: "The NDIS is failing tens of thousands of profoundly disabled Australians. Instead of having genuine choice, people are often left with only one option – group homes." Key recommendations include: 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 for those leaving group homes or not qualifying for specialised housing. 𝐄𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 that separate housing and support, allowing tenants to change providers without risking their tenancy. 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 and conducting inspections to ensure safety and quality in shared accommodation. The report also advocates for phasing out institutional-style group homes over the next 15 years, offering more personalised living options. "Giving disabled people more say about how they live is a win-win: it will transform lives and make the NDIS more sustainable." You can read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gzhCTPxk Access 2 Place Housing is committed to a pipeline of purpose-built SDA homes, that provide NDIS participants with genuine choice and control. #NDIS #DisabilitySupport #HousingReform #GrattanInstitute #Access2Place #Inclusion

Working in the disability sector adds a very special dimension to this final part of my studies - an interesting read from our Culture&Society course #voice #changeagency