NDIS + my Son + the PM

This is my story about NDIS, the wait for a phone call, and the email to the PM that resolved it all.

My son has a speech delay, he has just turned four, and for the past year he has been getting amazing support from his speech therapist.  Since April ‘18 he has also been receiving amazing support from his Art therapist, more recently Occupational Therapy and now swimming.  It has been a frustrating battle in more ways than I can count, what I didn’t expected that the biggest struggle would be to get a phone call. 

We were a bit slow in deciding that Gilbert needed some help.  Childcare reluctantly suggested that Gilbert be assessed.  I knew he was still using his own babble, and was different to the others children from Mother’s group. What I didn’t know was that he spent the whole time in child care by himself. Drop off was stressful enough, but to then know he wasn’t interacting, broke my heart. I dropped him back from two days to one and set on about finding as much support I could.  Child care also got moving and he now has a support person or two that he adores. 

By August ‘17 we booked his first appointment with his Speech Therapist. It was covered by private health, we went once a month until we could organise NDIS. I was waiting for a phone call. 

I was waiting to hear from the NDIS Early childhood Early Intervention team.  Unlike the general NDIS, ECEI don’t take calls, you will have to handover your details and emails every time to be put on the wait list to get a call back.

It took eight months and one email to the Prime Minister of Australia to get that call.  This is what I sent (reformatting for viewing ease):

Within two weeks I had one letter from NDIS apologising, a letter from the MP for my area and one phone call from customer service with a guarantee an NDIA person will contact me by week end to book appointment to complete the paperwork for application.  That week I got two calls, one for follow up, and one to tell me the person due to book me in was away that day and will be calling tomorrow. 

It was amazing. Beginning of Feb ‘18 I meet with a wonderful NDIA person who helped me include the correct information on the application.  By March ‘18 we had Access met, plus goal planning and by April end we have a budget, portal access and freedom to up Gilbert’s support.  

So people, my advise if you are unnecessarily waiting, DON’T.  Email the PM, outline your efforts and expectations and watch as the world changes.

First published on jitterbugjo.com Oct 18, 2018