At Ability8, we've designed the app to meet the needs of families caring for loved ones with a disability. We want to make it easier to manage everyday life, including navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Our app is based on our own experience of caring for our adult daughter who has severe disabilities.
One of our customers, Tracey, kindly shares her experience of using Ability8 with us. She tells us how Ability8 has helped her to organise the care needs of her teenage daughter. Her daughter has epilepsy, profound intellectual impairments, and is nonverbal.
Life before Ability8
When we first received our child's diagnosis, it felt like we were in a fog. Everything changed irrevocably, and each day blurred into the next. We were busy with doctor and specialist appointments. Paperwork was piling up and we had many referrals to equipment providers.
Before using Ability8, if a provider asked me a question, I'd recall a report or a letter that might have the details. I'd then spend hours sorting through mountains of paperwork to find it and, in most cases, turn up blank.
Experience after using Ability8
With Ability8, after each appointment, I add all the details into the app. This makes it easy to track and find what I need when I need it. For example, specialist exercises from our therapist to help my daughter learn to sit. I can share information with family and other care providers to ensure consistency of care. Sharing ensures everyone understands what will help my daughter best.
The daily challenges of caring for a child with a disability can be exhausting. An app to store all your important information is a serious game changer.
Ability8 allows me to share information about my child with family members, carers, therapists, school and more. I don't have to organise copies of documents for staff, or print off things for appointments. Instead, I enter everything once in the app and decide who can access what information. I no longer worry that paperwork will get lost if we need to change care providers. And it helps keep track of my NDIS funding and spending.
Keeping everything in one central location
When caring for someone with a disability, the paperwork is extensive. Particularly NDIS self-management. Using Ability8 allows my family to keep everything in one central location. So it's easy to retrieve vital information when I need it. I don't have to spend hours sorting through folders anymore to find something I once had. Often remembering painful memories.
Sharing care information
Because our child is nonverbal, she can't let others know what she needs. When we can't be there, Ability8 has provided us with peace of mind. We know our daughter is getting the care she needs and can share care plans with anyone providing care. It also takes the stress of repeating everything to new staff or service providers. I can just print out information or share the app with providers. I choose what to share, meaning as a family, we can control what level of information to share. This peace of mind is enormous.
Reducing the regulatory burden
Using Ability8, I can track appointments and care requirements via the app. I can check my budget, know what I've left to spend, and request staff to do shifts knowing it's all tracked. I also don't have the arduous task of working out the tax, super contributions and payslips.
This is all done for me using a few simple steps. Not worrying about these regulations is a huge relief and saves time. Using Ability8 helps remove some of the stress. It ensures loved ones can be cared for with dignity, consistency, and compassion via a simple to use app.
Long-term peace of mind
As a parent, Ability8 is an invaluable tool for my family. As the years' pass, I know she will continue to be cared for. I don't have to worry if I've remembered to communicate everything to staff or if they understand me. I can even create a video for training staff and attach it to specific tasks, which is amazing.