What is it about?

The rollercoaster adventures of parenting three kids, dealing with disability and mental health - and discussing disability discrimination and how to tackle it.

Monday, 17 November 2014

Breathing is so overrated

Some days, I just can't believe some of the things I hear.

Listen to this one.

A sweet friend of mine put in a request with NSW disability equipment Provider Enabe for a shower chair for her dear child. This requires a whole ream of paper, to be filled in by a qualified OT working for registered service provider.

The reply came that, yes, the chair was approved. However, the requested harness was denied as the tilt on chair would suffice to keep the child seated just fine. 

So the mother rang and asked the senior advisor to read out loud what OT had written as the reason for needing a harness.

"[Child] needs harness to keep their shoulders back to prevent chin and neck tilting forward which interrupts breathing "

I am pleased to be able to tell you all that my friend had a "fairly serious discussion" and a harness will be provided - and she even avoided the normal 21 day appeal process. 

But if "lack of breathing" is not a decent enough justification, you really gotta wonder what is???!!!! 


(And again. Why do we need qualified OTs to fill in all this paperwork if a bureaucrat overrides their professional advice ?!?!$

2 comments:

www.billyboy.com.au said...

Typical crap that goes on! Could have been less stressful but I'm glad she got what her child needed in the end x

Anonymous said...

Well done Heike!
Love Penny