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ParaQuad News
•
The NDIS Edition 2016
Michael
Supports
the NDIS
The accident resulted in him
sustaining an incomplete crushed
T4 vertebra which damaged
his spinal cord leaving him with
paraplegia.
Initially admitted to his local
hospital in Penrith, as the extent
of his injury became more
apparent, he was air lifted by
Westpac helicopter to the Royal
North Shore hospital where
he remained for five and half
months. As he explains ‘The
impact of the accident on my
body was massive and I constantly
came down with numerous
infections and viruses…
my blond hair even turned black!’
However Michael is a fighter
and slowly his body adjusted to
the spinal cord injury and he was
discharged from Royal North
Shore and admitted to Mt Wilga
Hospital for 7 months of intense
therapy. He was finally able to
go home to live with his parents
thirteen months after his ordeal
had begun.
‘ParaQuad was there from day
one as I began my new life living
at home in Sydney. They assisted
with my home modifications,
home supports and mobility.
In the early 1990’s Michael moved
with his brother to Newcastle and
like a lot of people with disability
relied on his older sibling to
enable him to continue to live in
the community. Michael now has
government funded independent
accommodation but they still
regularly stay in contact.
Since Michael’s accident over 35
years ago, his life journey has
been one of both highs and lows,
accepting the good and the bad
with laconic humour and a wry
smile. Living in the Hunter region
has placed Michael in the fortunate
position of being one of the first
participants of the NDIS trial roll out
which began in the Hunter Region
in July 2013.
Michael explains ‘With assistance
from ParaQuad my initial NDIS plan
was amended to include continence
support, domestic assistance and
other important supports which
I had overlooked. With the NDIS,
new supports that are now on offer,
people just need to be prepared
and know what to ask for. After all,
I’m on a 2 year plan and it needs to
cover all my needs before my next
review in 2017.’
Michael mentions that he has seen
the streamlining of the supports
that the NDIS provide, giving
participants more certainty, choice
and less confusion. ParaQuad
has supported him to develop a
personalised plan and manage
his funds.
Michael has nothing
but good to say
about the NDIS and
all that the scheme
has given him
He is grateful that a person in
his position has not been
forgotten and that he can live a
meaningful life in the community.
Finally he adds that his history
with ParaQuad, its specialised
knowledge in spinal cord injury
and the ability to access products
and services from ParaQuad
and BrightSky, have given him
peace of mind. And don’t we
all want that when it’s all said
and done?
Michael Barnes
Michael believes
that the NDIS
has considerably
enhanced his
quality of life and
strengthened his
relationship with
ParaQuad as his
preferred supports
co-ordinator
Life changed for Michael Barnes on Mothers Day the 10
th
of May 1981
when at the age of 25 he was involved in a major motor bike accident