SUBMISSION TO:

Productivity Commission
Inquiry into Disability Care and Support

I am a 35 year old person with C4-C5 Quadriplegia (spinal-cord injury) whom is trying to lead an ordinary life, but with difficulty.  I have first hand knowledge of the daily barriers faced as a person with disability.  I work part time 5 days a week.  My ageing parents are my support workers 24/7.  I have only a part funded Lifestyle Support Package so I’m unable to pay staff at award wages.

-	Disability Services Act to include section that says it’s a basic human right to receive adequate Lifestyle Support Funding.  Adequate funding includes a social life after 8.00pm. ;
 
-	Nationally or Federally funded Lifestyle Support Packages so we can choose to move and live anywhere in Australia without losing our funding and less upheaval in our lives;

-	Training and resource centres in each state to train Disability Support Workers and provide resources to people with disability and their families when needed;

-	Incorporate Universal Housing design principles into the Building Code Acts;

-	Support people with disability to manage their own Lifestyle Support Packages and to change providers [do not attach funding to a Service Provider] as this will encourage Service Providers to provide quality service provision, instead of holding people with disability to ransom. ;

-	Key concept to enable people with disability to have an ordinary life is to put the control of funding and design of services into their hands.  Only we know what barriers we face on a daily basis so we need to be at the top of the consultation list when it’s about us.

Regards,
Tania Hornberg