Australians without assistive technology funding asked to stand up and be counted
Tags
NDIS
Finance
Accessibility
Government
Posted 1 day ago
by Anna Christian
Dennis Simpson, at 72 years of age, is unable to access funding for a modern leg brace which would change his life. [Source: Supplied]
Dennis Simpson contracted Polio when he was three years old and has lived with a physical disability ever since.
But because he did not apply for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) before turning 65 he has been forced to use an older brace, which is painful and restrictive, as he can’t access funding for a modern brace.
People with disability must be under the age of 65 when they apply for the NDIS and if they are older the alternative funding scheme is My Aged Care, however that scheme has smaller funding packages and often does not cover the same level of assistance as the NDIS.
Mr Simpson explains that if he was able to get funding to replace his straight leg brace with a modern equivalent it would have a big impact on his life.
“The straight leg brace is just a brace that you’ve probably seen people walking around with, elderly [...]