The NDIS could be leaving families with a glut of used wheelchairs, walkers and other items that cost tens of thousands of dollars to purchase due to the difficulties in using NDIS funds to purchase second-hand equipment.
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An NDIS forum in Launceston last week was told of the frustration of families who are unable to sell disability aids and retrofitted vehicles due to a lack of market.
Participants suggested the second-hand items should be allowed to be provided to equipment libraries in schools for children who might only need them for a few years, before passing them on again.
Read more from the NDIS forum: Access concerns plague NDIS in Launceston
Vanessa Austen, whose daughter Amber, 18, lives with cerebral palsy, said the NDIS was providing families with funding for new equipment when there was often suitable second-hand equipment in the market.
"I have got a $15,000 walker that Amber has grown out of, it looks brand new," she said.
"She owns it, and I can't sell it second-hand.
"Amber's going to finish school this year and she's going to have two of everything. She's already got a $40,000 wheelchair that she doesn't fit in, but there's no market for it, so we're just retrofitting it as a spare."
The forum was told of an example in which a family sold a retrofitted Chrysler Voyager with 100,000 kilometres on the clock for $5000 after it was no longer fit for their purposes.
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The buyer was a woman with a disability who could not use NDIS funding for the purchase, nor could she afford the upfront costs of buying a new car to use NDIS funding to retrofit.
Disability advocate Jane Wardlaw said there was merit in revisiting access to equipment libraries in schools.
An NDIA spokesperson said second-hand equipment could be purchased using NDIS funding, however it must meet safety standards and be fit for individual purpose.
She said equipment could be donated to services in the community for refurbishment, reissue or recycle.
"It is important to note that complex assistive technology, such as wheelchairs, often requires customisation to suit a participant's individual needs, and to ensure safety," she said.
"Participants may also have the option to hire or lease equipment that may only be needed for a temporary time."
Transport issues remain prevalent for people with disabilities
Transport issues remained one of the biggest issues for NDIS participants, although some of their concerns focused on the state government's decision to reduce the taxi subsidies cap from $1000 to $350.
One participant told the forum - organised by Liberal Bass MHR Bridget Archer - that the state government was effectively "putting a lock on the front door and saying 'you've got a disability, so why would you want to go out?'"
The state government attempted to justify the decision by claiming that the NDIS would cover transport needs, and suggested people with disabilities utilise community transport schemes.
A participant said the community transport schemes were difficult to access for most and finished at 5pm Monday to Friday.
An NDIA spokesperson said second-hand equipment could be purchased using NDIS funding, however it must meet safety standards and be fit for individual purpose.
She said equipment could be donated to services in the community for refurbishment, reissue or recycle.