Having received support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for more than two and a half years, Kathryn Wilson says she is still shocked by how her much life has changed since accessing the Scheme.

Kathryn, who lives on a farm outside Southbrook near Toowoomba, has multiple disabilities and complex support needs.

“I was born at 26 weeks with cerebral palsy. I also have necrotizing myopathy and a problem with my nerves at the muscle junction,” Kathryn said.

“I am also diabetic, I have Addison’s disease, hydrocephalus, and I have a tumour wrapped around my spinal cord as well.”

Kathryn first accessed funding from the NDIS in 2017 and was blown away by the level of support she received.

“I got a lot of really good support and the amount of help I got, I was amazed. I am in shock honestly, still.”

After she had a stroke in 2018, Kathryn’s level of NDIS support was increased.

“I’ve met a lot of really lovely people. I now have carers who come in every morning to help me get out of bed and get organised. It takes me about three hours in the morning to get out of bed and get moving and the same at night.”

“If I have any appointments, they will take me. It has been totally life-changing,” she said.

Prior to the arrival of the NDIS, Kathryn had received no funded support and relied entirely on her ageing parents and her brother.

“As a result, I spent almost 20 years in my bedroom,” Kathryn said.

“Unfortunately, people with disabilities miss out on a lot of ‘firsts’ in their lives, first car, first job, first trip abroad, first house. For a lot of us, these are things we can only dream of. Although the NDIS will never be able to make up for the past, it certainly has left us with a much better prognosis for the future, before the NDIS came on board things were pretty grim.

“I don’t think people understand how good it is compared to what it was like a few years ago when we had no support at all. It was really up to mum and dad and my brother to take me anywhere.

“The NDIS has opened up a whole new world for me.”

Since receiving NDIS funding, Kathryn has been able to fulfil a long-term goal of learning cake decorating, as well as taking trips to the movies and the Empire Theatre.

“I have started cake decorating. I have always wanted to try it, but I had never really had the chance to do it.

“The best thing is I get to speak to people my own age. Before this, it was either mum or dad having to do everything.”

The support has also taken the pressure off Kathryn’s family and allowed them to enjoy their time together.

“Because mum and dad are older now, it is too much for them to take me around.

“It has taken the pressure off mum and dad and my brother, it’s a big commitment.

“It has really taken the stress out of it.”

Kathryn is supported on her journey by Carers Queensland, NDIS Local Area Coordination Partner in the Community for the Brisbane region.

For more information about the NDIS or how to access it, please contact Carers Queensland on 1300 999 636, or cq.enquiries@ndis.gov.au