Oscar thrives with the help of Disability Plan Services

June 28, 2021

Raising a child is one of the most rewarding experiences in life, however, it can also be a little stressful. Navigating the NDIS and finding the best supports for your child can sometimes feel overwhelming. With so many options available to you, you’re likely to have many questions. At Disability Plan Services, we love being able to help families, just like the Jennings’, to navigate the NDIS and ensure they have all the knowledge and support they need to live a happy and fulfilling life. 

Sophie Jennings is single mum of two. Her eldest son, Oscar, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) level 2 when he was just two years old. When he was five and started receiving NDIS funding, Sophie reached out to Disability Plan Services in Toowoomba for extra support. 

Sophie and Oscar have now been working with the team at Disability Plan Services for more than a year. Over this time, Sophie said her son has never been happier, and with the help of her Plan Manager, Sue Cook, she has been able to juggle raising two young children by herself.  

Oscar flourishes in the water

When Oscar was diagnosed with ASD in 2018, it was no surprise to Sophie. He was two years old but hadn’t yet started speaking, and his tantrums had become so severe they were barely able to leave the house.

Relieved to have finally found the cause of his behaviour, Sophie – who has ADHD herself – felt more confident reaching out for support. Because of his young age, Oscar was eligible for funding through the Government’s ‘Helping Children with Autism’ program. Through this funding, Oscar saw a speech pathologist, occupational therapist and paediatrician. Unfortunately, these supports had to be put on hold while Sophie was in hospital for a few months during the complicated birth of Oscar’s younger brother.  

After Sophie recovered, she applied for NDIS funding for Oscar and was successful. It was at this time that Sophie began researching plan management services providers and came across Disability Plan Services. Having read good reviews, Sophie was confident in her choice. She met Sue Cook and has never looked back since. 

“Sue is just an amazing person who always goes above and beyond for me and Oscar,” Sophie said. 

“I really wanted Oscar to get swimming lessons so that he can be safe in the water, and she went ahead and got funding on my behalf and made sure I wouldn’t have to make any payments up front. I didn’t have to do and thing.”

Oscar has been regularly attending swimming lessons for a couple of months now, and Sophie said she has already seen a big change in his behaviour. 

“Oscar is happy and he is thriving. He now socialises with other kids, which is something I never thought would happen in my wildest dreams,” Sophie said. 

“I am so grateful for all the support from Sue and the team at Disability Plan Services.”

Aside from swimming lessons, Oscar has also received funding for a speech pathologist, occupational therapist, and a psychologist, which Sue is currently helping organise for Oscar. The five year-old has also just been provided funding for sensory equipment – including sensory swings, head phones, weighted toys and more – and educational resources to help him prepare for school. 

If Oscar continues to thrive, Sophie one day hopes to become a domestic violence support worker. 

Our Services

At Disability Plan Services, we offer extra support for many parents, like Sophie, who have a child with a disability. 

If your child is an NDIS participant, you can request to have their NDIS plan managed by a registered NDIS service provider like Disability Plan Services. Without giving up control on how your child’s funds are spent, NDIS plan management will allow you to have more time to focus on other things while an independent, third-party takes care of the ongoing plan administration for you. Additional costs will be allocated to you for this service, so there are no out of pocket expenses for you. 

Read more on the benefits of plan management in our blog. 

If you’re interested in learning more about NDIS plan management with Disability Plan Services, contact us today by clicking here.