Leanne O’Neill

Which of the following statements best describes you?
I’m a person with disability

Question 1:
During the first stage of consultations we heard that the vision and the six outcome areas under the current Strategy are still the right ones. Do you have any comments on the vision and outcome areas being proposed for the new Strategy?

My main issues living in a regional area are:

– Getting help to find rental housing when you are employed (people assume because I have a job that I can find housing just as easily as anyone else that is employed, which is not true at all).

– It is so difficult to receive a disability pension once you have been employed (again people assume that because I have previously worked that it is just the same as anyone else to find employment).

– Accessibility in Regional areas is still quite difficult

Question 2:
What do you think about the guiding principles proposed here?

I believe that there is always help available to be part of the community, which is great – but harder to get help for basic life needs e.g. if my wheelchair hoist is broken while I am stuck in the car, I have to rely on a friend to help because you can’t just ring and get some immediate assistance, you are expected to make an appointment, which is unrealistic

Question 3:
What is your view on the proposal for the new Strategy to have a stronger emphasis on improving community attitudes across all outcome areas?

I think it is great, I have been in a wheelchair for 36 years and know how it feels to be excluded, I used to be married and people would say to my husband “what would your sister like” – very depressing.
I love seeing wheelchair access to beaches and parks etc. I used to have to watch from afar

Question 4:

I think it any clarity would be great in comparison to what there is now, especially regarding NDIS and DSP.

Question 5:
How do you think the Strategy should represent the role that the non-government sector plays in improving outcomes for people with disability?

It would be great if there was more education and assistance, especially for small businesses

Question 6:
What kind of information on the Strategy’s progress should governments make available to the public and how often should this information be made available?

Reporting would be wonderful, especially if disable people are part of it. (two years can be a long time for people with disabilities)

Question 7:
What do you think of the proposal to have Targeted Action Plans that focus on making improvements in specific areas within a defined period of time (for example within one, two or three years)?

Sounds great, my main issue is please change the ‘table system’ for the disability support pension, which seems to be more available to those with drug and alcohol problems and not focussing on the more complicated areas that affect a person with a disability in the workforce, such as incontinence and fatigue.

Question 8:
How could the proposed Engagement Plan ensure people with disability, and the disability community, are involved in the delivery and monitoring of the next Strategy?

Yes I believe there is not enough discussion with the people that actually have disabilities and their families.

Question 9:
Is there anything else you would like to share about the ideas and proposals in the position paper?

No and I hope I made sense