“Everybody looks at me and thinks I’m fine, because their definition of disability is somebody in a wheelchair.”
The Car Park
Leyla* was parked in a disability space, with her permit displayed and her support worker beside her, when a stranger jumped out of a nearby car to tell her she didn’t look disabled.
She had every right to be there. But the stranger didn’t like it. As Leyla puts it, his definition of disability was simply the wrong one.
It’s not the first time she’s heard it. “Disability is invisible,” she says.
Before
Leyla is in her mid-forties and lives with muscular dystrophy. Before she needed support, she worked as a chef and helped look after her brother’s children.
Today she lives on her own. Her only family nearby is a sibling in Canberra, who visits every few months.
What Support Looks Like Now
Leyla has two regular support workers, who provide between 25 and 30 hours of support each week, plus a cleaner for three hours a week.
Through her Care Navigator, she’s also connected with a physiotherapist and a psychologist, and joined a Pilates class in her community, outside her NDIS plan.
A Little Bit of Heaven
One of the biggest differences has been food.
Leyla is Lebanese and Vietnamese, and grew up with both. She lost her mum, and hadn’t had a proper home-cooked meal in a long time. So we matched her with a support worker who cooks traditional Lebanese food, the dishes she grew up with.
“It feels so close to home,” she says. “A little bit of heaven.”
They’ve also tried cooking Vietnamese meals together, working out the recipes as they go. Some attempts have gone better than others, which is part of the fun.
For someone who used to cook for a living, having her own food, made her way, has mattered more than almost anything else. Together they also do meal preparation, so there’s always something ready.
Looking for support at home that fits how you like to live? Speak with a Care Navigator →
Baking Together
Leyla and her support worker share a love of baking, so they bake together most weeks.
Leyla still leads. She chooses what they’re making and how it’s done. Where her hands can’t manage the fine work, her support worker steps in and finishes that part, and they keep going.
It isn’t support instead of doing something. It’s support so she can keep doing what she loves.
Her kitchen has also changed. Through her plan, Leyla now has cooking aids suited to her, including a kettle she can lift and pour safely on her own.
Small changes, but they mean more of the cooking stays hers.
What’s Changed
Leyla has a routine she can rely on, familiar faces each week, and support that fits how she likes to live. She also has people in her corner: someone to encourage her, and someone to advocate for her when she needs it.
How In-Home Support & Personal Care Helped
Through our In-Home Support & Personal Care, Leyla has regular support at home with daily living, meals and household tasks. Her Care Navigator coordinates her supports, connects her with allied health and community activities, and checks in as her needs change.
We match each participant with a primary and a secondary support worker, and arrange a meet-and-greet before support starts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a support worker cook meals from my culture?
Yes. Where we can, we match participants with support workers who understand their food, language and culture. Tell your Care Navigator what matters to you.
Can my support worker help me keep doing things I enjoy?
Yes. Support isn’t only about tasks. A support worker can help with the parts that have become difficult, so you can keep doing the things that matter to you.
Can the NDIS fund equipment to help me in the kitchen?
Assistive technology, such as cooking aids, may be funded where it’s included in a participant’s NDIS plan. An occupational therapist can recommend what suits you, and your Care Navigator can help you organise it. The NDIA decides what the NDIS funds.
How many hours of support can I have at home?
It depends on what’s funded in your NDIS plan. Your Care Navigator can help you plan your hours across your budget. How Many Hours of Personal Care Does My NDIS Plan Cover? →
Can my support worker help me connect with activities in the community?
Yes. Your Care Navigator can help you find local activities and connect with allied health professionals, alongside your support at home.
Looking for Support at Home?
*Name changed to protect privacy.
Aus Care Community Services provides and coordinates NDIS supports. What the NDIS funds is decided by the NDIA.
