Braylen and Rhonda
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.
Braylen had a stroke in his early 60s. He is now paralysed on one side and uses a wheelchair.
The wheelchair was almost impossible to manoeuvre in the home where he and his wife, Rhonda, lived at the time. The house is in the country, and the couple loved it.
‘We bought the house thinking that we were going to – with a view to retire and that we were going to basically die there. And it was our forever home. It was peaceful and quiet, and we don't have that anymore,’ Rhonda told the Royal Commission.
Several years after Braylen’s stroke, the couple sold the home because if they stayed they wouldn’t be able to meet the costs of Braylen’s care.
‘Well, it got to the point where I either had to stay at the house and we would lose everything, or sell it so that we wouldn't lose everything,’ Rhonda said.
Rhonda explained that their difficulties are due to reductions in Braylen’s NDIS support. This includes the decision to stop funding taxis to take Braylen into town, despite there being no other option.
‘You know, you just get a letter – and you go, "What the –?" you know. And there's no explanation,’ she said.
‘And when you do ask for an explanation, they just run you around. You know, you don't get somebody saying, "Well, [Rhonda], this is why,” you know. They won't physically ring you … There's no compassion there whatsoever to actually, sort of, explain to help you understand.’
When Braylen first came home from hospital, the NDIS helped meet the cost of equipment such as his wheelchair and a hospital bed, and contributed to the cost of modifying the kitchen. But the NDIS did not agree to help meet other necessary expenses, such as modifying the bathroom.
‘They kept saying, "No, we can't do this,” and “No we can't do that part of it,” and “No, that's your responsibility." And that went on for about seven or eight months,’ said Rhonda. ‘So I funded the things.’
A review of Braylen’s support package resulted in a cut to funding for physiotherapy sessions.
‘Since that's happened, [Braylen] basically can't walk on his stroke walker anymore because he hasn't got that support and that, you know, exercise regime.’
Braylen’s health has deteriorated since the move. The NDIA also reduced his funding for mental health care, further impacting his wellbeing.
Rhonda said getting information about why these and other decisions are made is like ‘pulling teeth’.
‘My feelings are that they really don't care about the people who they're providing the packages for. And they're not willing to actually listen to anybody. And when you go to them and say, "No, you've got it all wrong," or "You're not listening,” or anything like that, it's all above their head, and they just don't want to listen.’
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.