Rothwell family grows closer with support from the NDIS

Published On: 11 February 2020Categories: NDIS, News

After experiencing a stroke in 2018 and being concerned about the impact on her family, Rothwell local Fiona accessed the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and is now achieving her goal of actively participating in her household.

“I cried when I received my NDIS plan because what was included nailed my goals for me as a person,” Fiona said.

“I didn’t know what to expect when I applied for the NDIS, but my Local Area Coordinator (LAC) was lovely and there was nothing to be afraid of. All you need to do is focus on your goals.”

With her plan, Fiona is working with an occupational therapist to create exercises that suit her needs in order to improve her mobility and stamina.

“I enjoy wearing makeup, but after the stroke, it was hard for me to apply it. So my occupational therapist is getting me to do exercises such as putting on my mascara to get feeling back in my hand.

“Since my stroke my walking capacity has also been impacted; I can only walk about 150 m before getting tired. It's hard to access the community because if I'm walking to the train station, there are no seats along the way that allow me to rest.

“In the future, I want to access a physiotherapist because my goal is to build strength and stamina to manage my fatigue and access the community.”

Fiona is also excited about the flexibility of her NDIS plan, as it allows her to adjust her supports to help her achieve her goals along the way.

“I have support workers who come into my home every day to assist me with cleaning the house and meal preparation. They do all the walking around that I can’t do, but it isn’t about them doing things for me, it’s about having them there to support me so I can participate in my household.”

Fiona is supported on her NDIS journey by Tim, a Local Area Coordinator at Carers Queensland NDIS Partners in the Community Program for the Moreton Bay region.

If you have a disability but are not eligible for the NDIS, Carers Queensland staff can also help you identify and link to options for support in your community.

To find out more about how the NDIS and Local Area Coordination program can work for you, visit Carers Queensland NDIS Local Area Coordination Partners in the Community Program for the Moreton Bay region, Level 5/10 The Corso, North Lakes 4509 or call (07) 3384 1600.

You can also contact Carers Queensland on 1300 999 636, or cq.enquiries@ndis.gov.au