How to write Carer’s statement

To The NDIA Concerning the application of – Mary Smith Name of the primary Carer – John Smith Relationship to NDIS applicant – Primary Carer and father Hello, My name is John Smith. I am writing this carer statement in support of my daughter Mary Smith’s NDIS application. In this application, I am describing Mary’s support needs, how much time I spend supporting her daily, the impact on me as a carer, and how she will benefit from additional support from the NDIS. Mary’s official diagnosis is ‘ Bilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria and ataxia and spastic cerebral palsy left hemiplegia with dystonia and clonus’. I am 45 and a single father. Mary is now eight and an active, vibrant girl who requires assistance in her daily activities. As a parent, I am constantly at her side. Her coordination and balance need support to avoid falls and injury, along with typical parenting responsibilities. I work full-time and face challenges, requiring constant days off due to appointments and therapies. She also needs a regular massage at night as her legs are in pain. I am the only supporter in her life as her mother left us two years back. The condition of Mary is impacting her daily life in many ways, whether it is mobility, social interaction, learning, self-care, self-management or communication. Her mobility is disturbed due to her problem of accessing anything independently. She is almost silent and does not communicate. Though she is an intelligent child, her learning, communication and social interaction are still affected. Proper support and understanding of the NDIA funding procedure can make her situation more helpful. Mary is lovely and kind-hearted, but her physical limitations have made things hard for the last few years. The condition affects her strength, memory and auditory processing.Mary can move, and a school wheelchair is provided for her to use when she is tired. She needs rails when walking up and down stairs and moves much slower. Mary goes to mainstream school and loves interacting with her peers. She tries so hard, and I am so proud of her perseverance. Since the onset of the pandemic and the loss of face-to-face therapy and school, Mary’s muscles have weakened considerably, and we have observed a significant regression in her condition. Although the treatment supports she currently receives are insufficient to help Mary maintain her strength and progress. As a single father, all Mary’s needs fall onto my shoulders. I work full-time to support my family, but I must also ensure she can attend all therapy appointments. It’s challenging without any family help, but I’m determined to find a way to make it work. Adding extra care is necessary to ensure that Lucy can live a happy and independent life. I also need to be able to take care of my mental health. I hope that the needs of my daughter and me as her Carer will be considered. Regards John Smith