Advocacy

Someone gave me the most brilliant analogy for advocacy and the success felt when achieving anything major.

For example, I’m currently wearing my new shoes and have been for about a month. The shoes are referred to as Custom, not custom by NDIS.

They weren’t made by hand to specifically fit my feet, but you get fitted in the shop and there are layers in the bottom of the shoe that come out to make room for my AFO (Ankle, Foot Orthotics) and the overall effect is, I can walk better, my AFO does what it’s designed to do, my hips won’t be uneven and the most important thing is, I won’t need a knee replacement one day, because I have a habit of hyper-extending my knee.

The shoes actually come from the States (as in America) and are the most expensive shoes I’ve ever owned. They are not yet PAID FOR.

I know, sounds ridiculous that I’m currently wearing $350.00 pair of shoes that weren’t paid for by the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency – who manage and deliver the scheme)

So, the analogy I was given (no, I didn’t forget) was that Advocacy is like trying to climb Mount Everest. Then her advice was to stay at Base Camp. I suggested that was likely wise, since the air is thicker there.