We’re bringing you real-life stories from our Members about their disability and their experiences with the NDIS. These stories highlight different journeys, disability types and the ways Members use their NDIS funding to support their goals.
Today, we’re sharing Sarah* and her daughter Chloe’s story. Sarah reflects on their journey through early intervention and the NDIS. She shares the challenges of balancing therapy and family life. And how Chloe’s funding is used to support her development, independence and goals.
For Sarah*, a single mother of three, navigating the NDIS has meant balancing appointments, paperwork and daily life, often without support and experiencing a housing crisis. Her daughter Chloe*, now six, needed extra help from an early age.
At eight months old, Chloe experienced a sudden increase in head circumference, which led to ongoing checks by a paediatrician. Thankfully, Sarah’s eldest child already had a paediatrician, making it quicker to get Chloe seen. But Chloe’s speech was slow to develop, Sarah recalls, “She didn’t start speaking until after she was two. She basically had a two- to three-word vocabulary.”
Chloe first received speech therapy through Queensland Health, beginning with group sessions before moving to individual therapy for around 12 months. As Chloe was getting ready to start school, Queensland Health referred her to the NDIS so she could continue receiving speech therapy under a new plan.
The process took time. “That assessment journey for NDIS took 12 months,” Sarah says. Chloe was referred through the NDIS Early Childhood Approach and assessed by UnitingCare, an Early Childhood Partner. Sarah says the assessment was quicker than expected:
“Fortunately for me, that particular meeting only went for about 45 minutes because the minute they started witnessing Chloe interacting and behaving and her over-the-top nature of wanting to be on top of people and in people’s personal space, not being able to communicate what she was doing and why, they could already see that she was going to be a good fit.
Chloe’s first plan included two sessions a week of OT, speech, psychology and in-home support. But Sarah quickly realised it was too much. She asked her NDIS Planner if she could halve the budget and they would revisit the need for more support in the future.
“I just felt that doing therapy pretty much every day was going to be a very big upheaval in an already difficult situation for her. So that’s where we agreed to halve everything and do it weekly instead of twice a week,” says Sarah.
Chloe’s NDIS goals.
- Remembering routines and familiar tasks
- Communicating effectively with those around her
- Identifying and naming her feelings
- Build social and play skills
- Increase independence with everyday activities.
Chloe’s NDIS Plan.
| Budget category | Annual amount |
|---|---|
| Core Supports (Flexible): • Assistance with Daily Life • Consumables | $3,576 (total) $2,975 $600.00 |
| Capacity Building | $21,317 |
| Total: | $24,893 |
How Chloe’s funding is used.
Chloe attends weekly occupational therapy and speech therapy sessions to help with her speech and behaviour. At the moment, her sessions take place at a library close to school. Soon, they will be held at the school, which will make it easier to manage. Sarah feels positive about Chloe’s progress and says she can see the difference when therapy happens regularly.| Therapy type | Frequency | What's covered |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy | 1x per week | Travel, therapy appointments and report writing |
| Speech Therapy | 1x per week | Travel, therapy appointments and report writing |
Navigating life at home and school.
Sarah has minimal outside help and without family or community support readily available, she has managed largely alone, balancing Chloe’s therapies alongside part-time work and the care of her two other children.
The stress of unstable housing also complicated how Sarah could use Chloe’s funding. “Without secure housing, organising regular therapy was overwhelming. When we were nearing the point of being homeless, I realised I’ve got to put all these things on hold for a while,” she says.
She also found the early stages of the NDIS confusing. “I was sort of left in the dark and didn’t know where to start,” Sarah says. “Without anyone reaching out or guiding me, it became too much.”
Finding the right providers through Facebook.
Sarah unexpectedly found Chloe’s therapists through social media. She came across a Facebook post where people were recommending speech therapists and occupational therapists. After noticing one speech therapist being recommended repeatedly, Sarah reached out. That therapist then gave Sarah helpful information about other providers and plan managers, ultimately connecting Chloe with the right support.
What the future looks like.
Looking ahead, Sarah is preparing to seek a formal diagnosis for Chloe. Her developmental delays currently qualify her for NDIS support without a diagnosis, but Sarah is aware of the importance of early intervention and formal diagnosis. She advises other parents, ” Get on public system waitlists early, the wait for an assessment is very long.”
Sarah advocates strongly for communication. She stresses:
“Don’t ever be afraid to ask questions. Voice what you’re thinking, voice what you’re concerned about. If you’re unsure of something, get a direct answer. If one source isn’t clear, ask another. Different people interpret things differently.”
Need help understanding your NDIS plan?
Leap in! can help you understand what’s included in the plan and and how to use it. Call us on 1300 05 78 78, email [email protected] or chat with us online.
*Sarah’s and her daughter’s names have been changed to protect their identity. Sarah and Chloe are Leap in! members, and no photographs have been included to safeguard their privacy.
