Open Cage
1/5
Irony that's hard to bear when you muster up your phone-phobic courage and call the Board about the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) not allowing an agreed upon ordinary home plan meeting, let alone a meeting at home as a crucial adjustment.
"What's the NDIA?" was not a good start, followed by interruptions when I faltered, trying to explain the complexity of my situation and manage the functional and emotional aspects of speaking about an upsetting situation.
The ADB phone person said, "I'll mail you out the complaint forms"
I was a bit tearful, she abruptly said "Would you like to call back another time" (not helpful)
I told her it was urgent and asked could I go to a local office and fill out the forms with assistance.
Without letting me explain that I did not need assistance with content, just a check or a point to where to write so I put the info in the right place. Then, handing it in, instead of the multiple levelled task of finding the right time, finding a stamp, addressing and posting (which with my disability and current situation is very complex, and as I explained I had no support to do this) she said,
"You can't do that for you. We are not your advocates!"
A wonderful illustration of how bureaucrats with limited empathy and listening skills fail the very people they are supposed to help.
Surely this service should be willing and able to make reasonable adjustments.
Surely people on the complaints line should be good listeners?
I have a severe and complex mental illness and psychosocial disability. I am used to being dismissed, judged, unfairly treated and defeated by complex systems that are quoted at me as evidence of safeguards.
It's the same with the Ombudsman, the HCCC etc.
I have endured multiple systemic abuses and traumatic incidents that are rarely resolved due to inaccessible processes.
My right to seek justice, my right to safety and access to services depends on luck. I have only breb lucky sometimes.
If you do not live a "normal" life and fit the "usual" narrative of how disabled people are "supported" or speak the correct language, there is no assistance.
I know that saying I am a risk to their workers at my home ,(no specialist assessment, no history of violence, no criminal record and no explanation that a risk assessment had been done until I asked why my process had stalled yet again-6mths so far) is discrimination. Causing my lack of safety then calling me dangerous is disgusting.
Yet the anti discrimination board's processes are not accessible. So I guess they can do and say what they like. I have no power.
The ADB does have power. IIdont know what they can do.
Just because staff do not understand my functional limitations it does not mean they do not exist.
Just because I cannot access the rigid complaints system it does not mean that I am unworthy of help or that my case does not have extremely serious consequences.
Just because staff cannot relate to adjustments I need, does not make them unreasonable. Do they really think I choose this level of poverty and distress?
I have at least three serious issues where discrimination, stigma and unreasonable behaviour have impacted dramatically and negatively on my life.
If the people we trust to help us achieve our basic human rights are unwilling to "hear" and "see" us, we are relegated to the small, out of sight "difficult" box that is unliveable. Out of sight we don't make people feel uncomfortable, so
Even though your job is to help people who have been discriminated against, my rights, voice and access is sacraficed to support your way of working, which pays your bills and enables you to lead the contributing life that is blocked for me.
Shame on you for crushing me when I have been trying so hard to survive.
