Ernesto and Armani
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
All of Armani’s children have vision impairment, but Ernesto’s is the worst. He is ‘legally blind in one of his eyes’ due to a developmental disorder, Armani told the Royal Commission.
Ernesto is in his teens and has an NDIS plan. Several years ago an occupational therapist visited the family in their public housing and ‘recommended some modifications to the home to suit his needs long term’. Armani lodged the report with the housing department.
One of the managers in the housing department ‘was making life difficult’.
‘She wasn’t approving things. She was questioning everything, back and forth with the OT. Tried to change [the OT’s] recommendations. She had to amend her report six times until I put my foot down and I said, “Enough is enough.”’
For more than three years, authorities have been ‘digging in’ asking for more proof of Ernesto’s disability housing needs. Armani said more than half of Ernesto’s funding for therapeutic supports was ‘wasted on tit for tat not agreeing at anything’.
‘Poor [Ernesto], he end up with no therapy for maybe a year and a half, just to sort department of housing issue. And still until today’s date it hasn’t been resolved.’
After lengthy delays, work began on the house. When it did, a builder found that the roof was unstable.
‘As soon as he went up he said, “Holy crap. I’m not going in. The roof is not safe. It hasn’t been replaced. It will collapse.”’
Armani learnt that the house had been uninhabitable while the family had been living there. The engineer’s report advised ‘immediate evacuation’.
Nonetheless, the department’s requests for more specialist assessments continued. Each time, therapists were billing her from Ernesto’s budget. Armani feels the NDIS and public housing authorities have exploited her son.
‘You cannot neglect and put people at risk. With the department of housing, anyone with a disability they think that they could do whatever they want. They look at you that you’re disabled, you cannot stand up for yourself.’
The government finally agreed to provide the family with a purpose-built home. But Armani says officials have been dragging their feet for months and ‘are not taking this matter seriously’.
Last week, she met with her local member of parliament who promised to ‘escalate it to the minister’.
‘I told her to stop wasting my son’s budget. The department is abusing a child with a disability, using his funds. There is major negligence in this situation.’
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.