NDIS funds build person-centred support team around Marc

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Wodonga NDIS participant, Marc Hutchings, used his NDIS funding to engage Everyday Independence and it’s built a team of disability and health professionals around him who all work together to ensure he can meet his goals.

Jan, Marc’s mum, said the 40-year-old, who has an intellectual disability and limited speech, has really benefited from this holistic person-centred team approach.

A man is holding up an ipad and looking at the screen. A woman is looking over his shoulder and smiling.

“Marc’s occupational therapist, physiotherapist, speech pathologist and his habit coach all work together to ensure his therapies meet his immediate and long-term needs, and I must say the continuity of supports is wonderful and we can see Marc’s improving,” she said.

“Marc’s dad, Graham, and I have dealt with individual therapists for years, but with this team all work together, sharing Marc’s information, we don’t have to repeat ourselves, so not only has it been beneficial for Marc, it’s also been beneficial for us!”

Jan said the team get together weekly to discuss ways they can implement Marc’s therapies so they don’t overlap and he can feel confident in working towards his goals.

“The team throw various ideas around and come up with useful exercises and activities Marc can do, or work towards, that align with his interests,” she said.

“During COVID, and with all the restrictions, we were a bit worried about Marc not being able to visit, and whether or not he was coping with not doing his regular activities, so the team sent Marc’s OT around to his house to set up a Zoom meeting with us.

“We had a good chat about what else Marc could be doing at home during lockdown to make sure he was still engaged so together we came up with some really good ideas.

“Between lockdowns we were fortunate to have a family holiday with Marc. We got lots of photos so one of the ideas was to get him to make up scrap books with all our holiday photos. It’s basic, but it’s great to know it’s something he can do and really enjoy.”

Jan said Marc’s new habit coach, Jade, is really making a difference in his life too.

“Jade reinforces the skills Marc learns in each therapy session. She supports him to form daily habits or routines at home and when he’s out and about in the community,” she said.

“Jade also encourages Marc to take his iPad with him wherever he goes so he can take photos of all the fun things he’s doing during the day, and because Marc’s speech is limited, when he shows people his photos it encourages him to use more words.

“The iPad has also been beneficial for us as a family. We know the activities Marc does during the day, but we didn’t know if he was having fun or who he was interacting with so now he’s able to show us his photos and talk to us all about what he’s been doing.”

Jan said for Marc, Graham and her, the NDIS has been “a breath of fresh air.”

“As parents with a child with disability we were always concerned about what would happen to Marc if we weren’t around.

“Now, with Marc’s NDIS funding, we don’t have to worry. We know he is safe, settled and happy, living in supported disability accommodation, and he’s got a great team of people around him, working to ensure he reaches his full potential and he enjoys a fulfilling life.”