Wellard mum shares experience with NDIS trial

A Wellard mother has shared her family's positive experience with the National Disabilities Insurance Scheme My Way trial.

Mum-of-two Anna Ulupov, whose eight-year-old son Alexey has cerebral palsy, said the family signed up for the NDIS My Way trial in July and had been amazed with the positive changes it had brought.

She said the new model had allowed her to hand-pick local disabilities service providers for Alexey, helping her feel more in control of her son's care.

"We've been accessing services since Alexey was eight months old, but sometimes we could have to travel as far as Currambine for appointments," Mrs Ulupov said.

"Under the old model, we had to take whatever we were provided with, but under NDIS, if you like a therapist and want to stick with them, you can."

Mrs Ulupov said the family worked with an NDIS planner to establish a schedule for Year 1 student Alexey, which now included weekly physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy and monthly hydrotherapy sessions.

She said while the plan took some time to finalise, she felt better supported as a result.

"At first, the idea of change was scary, but this change has definitely been for the better," Mrs Ulupov said. "They change the plan once per year, but if you are having problems, the NDIS planners can look into it for you."

Disability Services Minister Helen Morton said more than 1000 extra people became eligible for the NDIS My Way trial in its fifth quarter.

Mrs Morton said Cockburn- Kwinana joined the trial on July 1, bringing the number of people in the State taking part to 1839.

She said feedback remained positive. "Of those people who have had their plan reviewed this quarter, 90 per cent of their plan goals were achieved, which is wonderful," Mrs Morton said.

Originally from Russia, Mrs Ulupov said the quality of disability services in WA and her home country were "incomparable".

She said she felt happy and lucky to have been allowed to resettle in Australia and, in turn, be able to access high-quality services for her son.

"It is unlikely that Alexey would have survived if he had been born in Russia," Mrs Ulupov said. "There are no services at all there."

She said she believed adults with disabilities would benefit from the choice of services available.

Mrs Morton said the State Government was committed to rolling out the NDIS to all eligible West Australians.

"People with a disability and their families need access to NDIS as soon as possible," she said.