Through the national Assistive Technology For All campaign, we’re advocating for a national assistive technology program to support people with disability who are excluded from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) – the vast majority of whom are over the age of 65. ‘Assistive technology’ refers to the broad range of aids, equipment and home modifications that can help people overcome the impact of aging or disability, such as:
- grab rails and ramps
- wheelchairs
- prosthetic limbs
- hearing aids
- specialised computer software
- electronic communication devices.
On Wednesday 9 June, we hosted a national campaign event with 230 attendees. The online event was facilitated by former Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes AM, and featured a panel discussion with older people with disability excluded from the NDIS. We heard about their struggles to access aids, equipment and home modifications. It was a stark reminder of why the ATFA campaign is so desperately needed. If you missed the event, you can still access it online.
What you can do now
We need to keep building momentum and let government know that older people with disability have waited long enough. The time for change is now and we need your help! Here are a few simple steps you can take to support the campaign:
- Sign our e-petition and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to do the same.
- Write to your Federal MP asking them to raise this issue with Senator Anne Ruston on your behalf. This is quicker and easier than it sounds! Just enter your contact details into our online form to generate a letter that will go straight to your federal MP. There’s also space on the letter for you to explain why this issue is important to you, which will increase the chances of your MP taking it seriously.
- Follow up on your letter by arranging a meeting with your Federal MP, if you have time. Feel free to take a copy of our briefing paper along to the meeting with you.
- If you’ve been personally impacted by the lack of access to assistive technology outside the NDIS, please consider sharing your story with us to help demonstrate why urgent change is needed.
- Join our closed Facebook group to keep in touch with us and follow what’s happening with the campaign.
We can’t achieve the change that’s needed without your help. Your voice counts and we need as many people as possible to come with us on this journey!
For more information, please contact Assistive Technology For All Campaign Coordinator, Lauren Henley, by phone on (03) 9655 2140, or by email at info@assistivetech.org.au.