Jamie-Lee writes about her experience of waiting 12 months for SDA and the impact that had on her life.
While I was waiting for my SDA decision from the NDIS I spiralled into depression.
I was not exactly living the life of someone in their 20s in the group home I was living in. I was constantly being called into question if I strayed away from the normal daily routine. I would feel like a burden if I wanted to go out and try something different. For someone who was learning to break free from discrimination in favour of able-bodied people (ableism) I struggled to maintain my sanity.
During this time one of my close friends at the group home passed away which only made me even more depressed. Not only had I lost someone who was close to me, but I was left questioning my own mortality. I still felt like I had so much life to live and now I faced the prospect of dying in a group home. Unable to fulfill my goals and dreams.
Had my condition really progressed to the point of no return?
My family could only watch as my mental health deteriorated, and they didn’t know how to help me. No matter what my condition had done to my body, my mental health was the one thing I had always been able to manage. Things had a way of escaping my awareness in that group home, and problems just kept building up until I couldn’t handle them anymore.
For 12 months I was stuck in this self-sabotaging cycle with no end in sight. My sister and I were living together in this group home, and she was the only person who understood what I was going through.
Since my sister and I moved into our own separate SDAs our world has opened completely. Not only do we have multiple individual jobs, but both of our mental health has improved dramatically.
For the first time in a long time, I can admit that I’m excited about what the future holds for me.
Please stop other people from going through the same turmoil that I went through.
Sign the petition and bring the decision for SDA down to 10 days.
If you would like to share your lived experience of long SDA delays, please contact Gina:
Email: gina.fall@summerfoundation.org.au
Phone: 0499 333 105
