Audie and Jaxxon
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.
Audie, in their early 40s, has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Audie’s children are autistic and have numerous health issues. Audie and their children were each approved for NDIS funding several years ago.
Audie told the Royal Commission the family does not get enough funding to meet each individual’s needs. Their younger child Jaxxon, who also has EDS, was initially funded for allied health support only. Audie had asked for a package that included funding for interventions such as speech and occupational therapy and a support worker to accompany Jaxxon outside the home.
‘When I said, “Look, he needs to get out of the house, he needs to play with his friends, he needs to go to school” – we couldn’t even get him to school a lot of the time. And so, they were like, “That’s parental responsibility,” and that was the end of that.’
Audie said Jaxxon’s package basically only ‘covered the reports for the next NDIS package’.
Initially, Audie shared their NDIS funding with Jaxxon, which meant compromises to their supports as well. But one day they went along to an NDIA-organised ‘tell us what you think kind of event’.
‘One of the regional directors was there and I broke down in front of him.’
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.