In this episode Mel chats with Jo Abi, a journalist, media commentator, author and autism advocate who has three children - two sons, Philip, 18, Giovanni, 15, and her daughter Kitty, 13. 

Philip and Giovanni both have autism and are on the NDIS - and it looks like Kitty will soon be joining them, as she’s currently being assessed for an autism diagnosis. 

Jo has a lovely new partner who also has autism - and who she met at an Autism Awareness Australia event - but for the past five years, she’s been a solo mum. Not an uncommon thing to be, in the disability family space. 

Jo shares her tips for fellow solo parents navigating the NDIS and explores how things change when kids on the scheme grow into young adults.

Hear more from Jo at the Autism Awareness Australia's AUStism 2023 conference: https://www.autismawareness.com.au/events/austism-2023

Find top-notch support workers for your family: https://hireup.com.au/

In this episode Mel chats with Jo Abi, a journalist, media commentator, author and autism advocate who has three children - two sons, Philip, 18, Giovanni, 15, and her daughter Kitty, 13. 
Philip and Giovanni both have autism and are on the NDIS - and it looks like Kitty will soon be joining them, as she’s currently being assessed for an autism diagnosis. 
Jo has a lovely new partner who also has autism - and who she met at an Autism Awareness Australia event - but for the past five years, she’s been a solo mum. Not an uncommon thing to be, in the disability family space. 
Jo shares her tips for fellow solo parents navigating the NDIS and explores how things change when kids on the scheme grow into young adults.
Hear more from Jo at the Autism Awareness Australia's AUStism 2023 conference: <a href="https://www.autismawareness.com.au/events/austism-2023">https://www.autismawareness.com.au/events/austism-2023</a>
Find top-notch support workers for your family: <a href="https://hireup.com.au/">https://hireup.com.au/</a>

Welcome to NDIS Know-how, a podcast series that asks parents how they get the very best NDIS plan and ample funding to support their kid. Host Melanie Dimmitt, author of Special: Antidotes to the Obsessions that Come with a Child's Disability, chats candidly with fellow parents and professionals in the disability space to gather stories, tips and tools to successfully navigate the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). 

Welcome to NDIS Know-how, a podcast series that asks parents how they get the very best NDIS plan and ample funding to support their kid. Host Melanie Dimmitt, author of Special: Antidotes to the Obsessions that Come with a Child's Disability, chats candidly with fellow parents and professionals in the disability space to gather stories, tips and tools to successfully navigate the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

NDIS Know-how

Advocating for kids with autism - regardless of age - and NDIS wrangling as a solo parent

In the final episode of season two, Mel chats with tech entrepreneur, brand expert and NDIS participant Steve Ralph. At the end of 2017, Steve misjudged a jump into a swimming pool and sustained a spinal cord injury that saw him become a quadriplegic.

Steve now needs significant support to go about his day and he’s got some very cool assistive tech to help him get out adventuring, like modified bikes and kayaks and an all-terrain wheelchair. He shares how he manages his NDIS funds with the help of a support coordinator and his advice for people who are new to the scheme. 

In very exciting news, Steve is hosting a new, soon-to-launch podcast for Hireup called Life Rolls On. This series sees Steve chatting with other people who’ve experienced life-changing injuries – and sharing the challenges and triumphs they've had since. 

Listen to the Life Rolls On trailer: https://omny.fm/shows/life-rolls-on/life-rolls-on-trailer-a-podcast-about-living-well

Get in touch with NDIS Know-how topic and/or guest suggestions: melanie.dimmitt@hireup.com.au

In the final episode of season two, Mel chats with tech entrepreneur, brand expert and NDIS participant Steve Ralph. At the end of 2017, Steve misjudged a jump into a swimming pool and sustained a spinal cord injury that saw him become a quadriplegic.
Steve now needs significant support to go about his day and he’s got some very cool assistive tech to help him get out adventuring, like modified bikes and kayaks and an all-terrain wheelchair. He shares how he manages his NDIS funds with the help of a support coordinator and his advice for people who are new to the scheme. 
In very exciting news, Steve is hosting a new, soon-to-launch podcast for Hireup called Life Rolls On. This series sees Steve chatting with other people who’ve experienced life-changing injuries – and sharing the challenges and triumphs they've had since. 
Listen to the Life Rolls On trailer: <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/life-rolls-on/life-rolls-on-trailer-a-podcast-about-living-well">https://omny.fm/shows/life-rolls-on/life-rolls-on-trailer-a-podcast-about-living-well</a>
Get in touch with NDIS Know-how topic and/or guest suggestions: <a href="mailto:melanie.dimmitt@hireup.com.au">melanie.dimmitt@hireup.com.au</a>

Living well after a life-altering injury with support from the NDIS

This is the second part of Mel's conversation with Lisa Grech, a researcher, psychologist and mum to Hannah, who has a rare genetic condition and intellectual disability. If you missed part one, where Lisa shares how she fiercely advocates for her daughter, who is an NDIS participant, skip on back and check it out. 

In this episode Lisa talks about the issue of inequality in relation to the NDIS – a topic she’s particularly passionate about, having come from a disadvantaged background herself. She also shares how she feels the scheme is going in the area of supporting participants' mental health. 

Explore Hireup's library of webinars and free resources to help you navigate different elements of the NDIS: https://bit.ly/HU_NDIS

This is the second part of Mel's conversation with Lisa Grech, a researcher, psychologist and mum to Hannah, who has a rare genetic condition and intellectual disability. If you missed part one, where Lisa shares how she fiercely advocates for her daughter, who is an NDIS participant, skip on back and check it out. 
In this episode Lisa talks about the issue of inequality in relation to the NDIS – a topic she’s particularly passionate about, having come from a disadvantaged background herself. She also shares how she feels the scheme is going in the area of supporting participants' mental health. 
Explore Hireup's library of webinars and free resources to help you navigate different elements of the NDIS: <a href="https://bit.ly/HU_NDIS" data-stringify-link="https://bit.ly/HU_NDIS" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://bit.ly/HU_NDIS</a>

How can the NDIS be a fairer, more equitable scheme for all?

This episode is part one of Mel's chat with Lisa Grech, a researcher, psychologist and proud mum to Hannah, her 20-year-old daughter who has a rare genetic condition and intellectual disability. Lisa herself has multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic mental health issues. She co-parents and cares for Hannah with her ex-husband, Tim.  

Lisa uses what she calls an “aggressive” strategy when it comes to Hannah’s NDIS plan reviews – and she advocates more broadly around inequality issues within the scheme. In part one of Lisa and Mel's chat, Lisa shares how she assertively and effectively gets what her family needs from the scheme.

Link to Lisa Grech and Carly Findlay’s article: https://hireup.com.au/news/who-has-the-right-to-talk-about-the-issues-facing-people-with-disability/

This episode is part one of Mel's chat with Lisa Grech, a researcher, psychologist and proud mum to Hannah, her 20-year-old daughter who has a rare genetic condition and intellectual disability. Lisa herself has multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic mental health issues. She co-parents and cares for Hannah with her ex-husband, Tim.  
Lisa uses what she calls an “aggressive” strategy when it comes to Hannah’s NDIS plan reviews – and she advocates more broadly around inequality issues within the scheme. In part one of Lisa and Mel's chat, Lisa shares how she assertively and effectively gets what her family needs from the scheme.
Link to Lisa Grech and Carly Findlay’s article: <a href="https://hireup.com.au/news/who-has-the-right-to-talk-about-the-issues-facing-people-with-disability/">https://hireup.com.au/news/who-has-the-right-to-talk-about-the-issues-facing-people-with-disability/</a>

Advocating for kids with autism - regardless of age - and NDIS wrangling as a solo parent

NDIS Know-how

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