The NDIS stories in our Bendigo region | online magazine

Minister for the NDIS, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has released a consultation paper on improving decision making support for participants.

"Everyone has the right to be involved in decisions about their life and to have choice and control," Minister Reynolds said.

"About 60 percent of adult participants on the NDIS have a disability that might mean they require some support to make decisions," Minister Reynolds said.

"We know many NDIS participants have someone in their lives who they trust to help them make decisions on disability supports, but some don't.

You can read about the inspiring way local people manage their day here, just click on this link.

Stories like this one, about Guide Dog client Kathleen Spofforth are always uplifting, and give hope to those in similar circumstances.

"The NDIS supports me throughout the year by allowing me to be able to receive services in daily living and training to continue to live independently. They also assist with equipment to make day to day life easier," Kathleen said.

"The biggest allowance through the NDIS was gaining the funding for my Guide Dog Evie, who has become the biggest part of my life."

Whatever your age or level of vision, Guide Dog's Bendigo office offers a wide range of services for people with low vision or blindness that can be tailored, and delivered through the convenience and care of a local office.

Guide Dogs provides a range of services to guide people with low vision or blindness to greater independence in various aspects of life - including mobility, accessing information, carrying out everyday tasks and connecting with others in the low vision community.

While Guide Dogs is philanthropically funded, the organisation is also a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provider and My Aged Care provider. This means you can access services through your NDIS or My Aged Care funding, or if you do not have access to external funding, they can assist you through philanthropic support.

Guide Dogs offers professionally trained Support Coordinators who are highly skilled in working with participants who have Support Coordination funded in their NDIS plan. For those who do not have funding, Guide Dogs can provide free pre-planning service to people who are considering the NDIS, or renewing their plans and needing support. A Support Coordinator will partner with you to understand your unique goals and make things happen to ensure you can achieve them.