/ A Guide to Becoming a Participant in the National Disability Insurance Scheme

MND Victoria has developed thisinformation as a guide to help you to become a participant in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This guide is not exhaustive but is designed to be used when you meet with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) planner or representative either via the telephone or in person.

You can gather further information about the NDIS and becoming a participant by accessing the NDIS website . If you are unable to access this information online, you can seek assistance from us by calling the Coordinator Support Services on 9830 2122 or NDIA on1800 800 110.

Once you have been deemed eligible to become a participant in the NDISyou will be contacted by an NDIA representative firstly to gather further information, then to commence a discussion about your NDIS plan. The planner will arrange a meeting with you to commence the planning conversation. At each contact the person will clearly identify themselves as calling on behalf of the NDIS/A.

MND Victoria will assist you with your pre-planning in preparation for yourNDIS planning meeting. Please contact your MND Advisor or MND Victoria on 9830 2122. We will give you advice and attend the planning meeting at your request. It is your choice who you have present at the planning meeting. If you want help from one of the MND Victoria team who understands MND, its impact and the importance of planning for the future, then please inform NDIA when arranging the appointment time.

It is important that prior to your planning meeting you spend some time thinking about what would be helpful and what you want your plan to address. The planner will likely call these thoughts your goals.

To ensure that you continue to receive support from your MND Advisor, Support Coordination must be included in your plan and MND Victoria nominated as the Support Coordination provider.

My planning checklist:

Task / Yes/No
Relevant documentation to have at the planning meeting /
  • Letter from neurologist or GP about your MND

  • A copy of the MND Victoria ‘confirmation of diagnosis form’ signed by your neurologist or GP

  • Your MND Victoria ‘Client Action Plan’ developed with your MND Victoria MNDAdvisor

  • Allied health assessments, for example from speech therapist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist

What support do I currently have? /
  • Family

  • Friends

  • GP

  • Neurologist

  • MND Victoria – information, MND Advisor, equipment, support programs (Living Well)

  • Home help

  • Personal care

  • Other

What is important for me to maintain?
(The planner may call these goals.) /
  • Living arrangements

  • Family relationships and activities

  • Friends and activities

  • Independence - mobility

  • Access to the community

  • Other

What are the symptoms of MND that impact on my daily life? /
  • Muscle weakness causing changes to mobility,strength and independence

  • Difficulty with speech, swallowing, saliva

  • Fatigue

  • Changes to sleeping patterns

  • Shortness of breath

  • Difficulty to control emotions such as crying and laughing

What tasks do I have difficulty with because of the symptoms of MND? /
  • Walking

  • Driving

  • Cleaning

  • Showering, dressing and other personal care activities and toileting

  • Shopping, food preparation and eating

  • Climbing stairs

  • Communicating (talking)

  • Using the telephone

  • Gardening

  • Laundry – hanging clothes on the clothes line

  • Accessing outdoors

  • Sleeping

  • Participating in social activities with family and friends

What actions would support me to continue to remain as independent as possible? /
  • Someone to assist me to plan for my future who knows about MND

  • Information about MND and support options which are individualised for me and my family

  • Someone to talk to about MND and adjusting to possible changes in my lifestyle

  • Assessment by an occupational therapist to provide recommendations for modifying my home so I can access the bathroom and move around my home safely and more easily.

  • Assessment by a physiotherapist to recommend equipment that will help me remain as independent as possible and ensure safety of my carers

  • Training and support for my service providers so they understand MND and help me better

  • Support for my partner, so he/she can continue to work, and children

  • Access to training and support activities for me and my family to help us live better with MND

  • Speech therapy assessment to recommend communication aids and assistance with swallowing and saliva management

  • Respite to give me, my partner and family a rest

  • Assistance with tasks around the home such as cooking, cleaning, washing

  • Assistance with personal care

  • Assistance to access the community – transport, support person

  • Modifications to home – ramp access or bathroom modification etc

  • Equipment – bathroom aids, manual wheelchair, power wheelchair, walking frame, hoist, bed

  • Other – there are likely to be other actions to consider

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