#ndia

For everyone else, please e-mail your local federal MP and tell them removing participants off the NDIS with no non-profit support services available to non-NDIS participants offering sufficient levels of care is a disgrace. As a participant who's primary disability is psychosocial, there are no services available to me which compare to what I recieve on the NDIS. There are short term programs, usually based on capacity building to independence. That's not what I need. I've been adequately treated for my condition and my brain is still fucking toast 🙃

I also have a secondary condition that is physical which the NDIS is trying to deny that I met access for, but that's another story. Presently I still recieve support for that condition. The entire reason I used my psychosocial disability to gain access was because I needed support for my physical disability. I will still need support for that condition if I'm removed from the NDIS on the basis of having a primary disability that is psychosocial. There is no support for me that comes close to what is available through the NDIS and being on disability pension in a cost of living crisis? I can't afford it. I'll regress. My mum will get carer burnout. My quality of life will severely deteriorate.

Robodebt caused uncountable suicides. I have known people who killed themselves due to it.

After doing their best to cover up and lie about it, they're doing it again.

Internal review for my sister’s disability care package came back and the fucking governing body decided again to deny the supports that she needs and I have justified again and again she needs with all the specialist and therapist reports. The reviewing delegate says they stand by the original decision that my sister doesn’t need 1:1 care around the clock and can share a home with others (when it’s been shown over and over again that she fucking can’t) and that she doesn’t need to stay in her own home with her chosen supports to live her life.

I fucking hate the bureaucracy of this shit, I hate it. My sister’s life isn’t any less valuable than anyone else’s, why does the word of multiple specialists and therapists as well as fucking lived experience mean nothing?!!!

Next step is Administrative Reviews Tribunal and the NDIA have fucking millions of dollars a year to throw around to intimidate participants and carers but they refuse to fund ppl with disabilities properly because it hurts their narrative that the NDIS is a “cost blow out” and it needs to be curtailed. I’m on the fucking pension, can’t afford a fucking lawyer and I have anxiety and depression and AuDHD myself. I’m already so tired of fighting them but I don’t have a fucking choice. My sister means everything to me. I can’t even have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting an advocate because they’re run off their feet with all current cases at Tribunal, which increased 93% from last year because the NDIA keep cutting or refuse to fund utterly reasonable disability care requirements. I fucking hate it hate it hate it. They’re trying to run ppl down so they give their person up or whatever. This is fucking insane. “Lucky country”, my ass!!

By John Parker

The NDIA gathered merchants of death like Lockheed, General Dynamic, Raytheon, and other weapons manufacturers salivating over the prospect of billions more additional dollars to add to the $70 billion already promised for war in Ukraine.

Hello, this is my first post in 2019! I wish you all a beautiful New Year!

You can read my rambling about my blog’s new theme below.

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance defines digital equity as “all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy, and economy” (2016). This means that everyone has the resources available to contribute to a society that has become completely saturated in a variety of digital technologies. Another important aspect of digital equity is digital inclusion, which is defined as “activities necessary to ensure that all individuals and communities, including the most disadvantaged, have access to, and use of, information and communication technologies” (National Digital Inclusion Alliance, 2016). This means everyone, especially those living with disadvantageous circumstances, have the abilities to not only access but also properly use the technologies required to fully participate in society. 

The digital divide is what happens when disadvantages parts of society do not have proper access and ability to use the digital technologies needed to fully participate in society. In a TEDx Talk, Cynthia Owyoung talked about how tech companies can work towards healing the digital divide (you can watch her presentation here). She suggested that the definition of “digital divide” needs to increase to include those who receive direct benefits from the digital revelation and those who do not (2017). These concepts relate because the digital divide is our current state, digital equity is the end goal, and digital inclusion is the strategy used to help achieve this goal. There has to be a coherent strategy for digital inclusion. It can’t just have short-term solutions, but long-term, sustainable options that are able to adapt to our ever-changing technological landscape.  

“Digital Equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services” (National Digital Inclusion Alliance, 2016). 98% of households are located in an area with access to broadband networks, however not nearly this many people are able to use technology. Why is that? (Schweiger, 2014). Our society uses digital technology in many sectors, so without full access to these digital services, people will have difficulty participating to the fullest extent. These people will also have difficulties building a variety of digital literacy skills because you have to have hands-on experience and practice with the kinds of technology that are used prevalently in society. 

There are many different ways that the digital divide can be healed and further steps towards digital equity can be made. For more information on the National Digital Inclusion Alliance you can visit their website. 

Sources:

https://www.benton.org/blog/what-do-we-mean-when-we-say-digital-equity-and-digital-inclusion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy1a-ttizxU

Pazurek, A., & Feyissa, S. (2015). The SAGE Encyclopedia of Educational Technology: Digital Divide. SAGE Publications, Inc. 205-207.