Luis
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.
‘As if we do not have enough struggles in our daily lives already.’
Luis wrote to the Royal Commission about his experience of the NDIA as an organisation with ‘abusive, neglect policies towards people with disability’.
Luis was born with ‘severe hearing loss’. English is his second language.
Luis works from home. He told the Royal Commission he waited a long time for NDIS support. When it finally arrived it covered only basic equipment to help with daily life and work, ‘even though this was clearly inadequate’.
The NDIS told Luis he needed to complete an assistive technology form.
‘[This] was a nightmare … When it is finally clear that the service provider need to complete this form, for three weeks NDIS has not been able to provide any advice to the service provider about completing the form. I had to escalate and use national relay chat to continuously follow up.’
Luis lodged a complaint but, he says, the complaint process takes 21 days to run its course.
‘From the time I applied to now, 5 months have already passed − and now I need to wait another 21 days just to get NDIS to advise on how to complete a form which they created.’
Meanwhile, Luis says, he has been struggling through the ordeal of navigating ‘often inconsistent, incompetent and incomplete’ advice from NDIS officers with unsuitable equipment.
‘I don't even know if I am really going to get any helpful response 21 days either.’
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.