Aimee Sloan is, like so many parents of a child with a disability, worn out by the demands and worn down by the system that was increasingly reducing supports for her ten-year-old son Liam, despite him being on the NDIS scheme since he was two years of age.

“It has been an uphill battle to get the funding that Liam needs to meet his requirements for adequate supports. Years of fighting the system have taken their toll on my wellbeing and mental health as well as not meeting Liam’s support needs, as funding was cut from plan after plan over a period of years,” said Ms. Sloan.

“Over time they took away respite and support hours obliterating the necessary help that Liam required to live his best life and fulfil the promises the NDIS said it would deliver to people with disability.”

“When I met Richard and Sarah from Connected Support Group, they didn’t ask what funding we had, but set about getting us the funding we needed.  For months, Richard worked Pro Bono as a Support Coordinator assisting me to get the right reports, supporting me to use the correct language and helping achieve the best possible plan outcome for Liam despite not being paid a cent to do so.”

“He supported us through a change of planner to ensure that Liam had the best opportunity to meet his goals and fulfil his aspirations with the outcome being that Richard supported us through the planning meeting. We did indeed end up with a plan that included the right level of support as well as much needed Support Coordination so Richard could continue his work with Liam,” said Ms. Sloan.

“Liam now has three regular support workers and although he is non-verbal, he is well and truly able to indicate the joy these Connected Support staff bring to his life and the happiness he gets from engaging with them in the amazing work they do each and every week.”

“Apart from the support we have received, the exceptional communication Richard, Sarah and their staff offer us is beyond what I’d come to expect. Feedback is welcomed and acted upon, and I always feel I can pick up the phone anytime with a question, query or good old-fashioned cry and know it will be responded to with patience and compassion by whoever is on the other end.”

“I am forever grateful to Richard and his expertise in the sector that has made a fundamental difference to my son’s NDIS plan.  Without his exceptional knowledge and understanding of the system and his willingness to act on our behalf without the option of payment, I do not know where my family would be right now.”

“Thanks to Connected Support Group we are well supported with the right NDIS plan in place to meet Liam’s needs and support requirements to help him achieve his dreams, hopes and aspirations,” said Ms. Sloan.

You can meet Richard, Sarah, and their incredible team of dedicated professionals with the know-how to get the most out of your plan at the Melbourne Disability Connection Expo on 21st and 22nd April at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.