NDIS Champions
Janelle Macri
Canning Vale, WA
Jenelle was born hearing, but when she was about three years old she was diagnosed with a profound hearing loss. She grew up in a small country town with almost no support, so Jenelle's Mum was her role model, mentor and speech teacher, and Jenelle gives her a lot of thanks to where she is today.
Jenelle is now married with two children. Her older boy is hearing, and her second daughter has a profound hearing loss - again diagnosed at about the same age - but thanks to the technology of today, she has her bilateral cochlear implants, and she is a very confident and outgoing young girl who has a zest for life.
Jenelle says, "I am very passionate about helping others get the maximum support from the NDIS, and I’m keen to see where the NDIS will take us in many years. Currently WA has two trial sites, being My Way and NDIS, so I’m keen to learn how they both run. My real passion in this area is to help clients understand and help them navigate, as with most deaf people, English is not their strong subject, so they find filling out forms is a challenge, and they usually give up due to their struggles."
Jenelle currently works as a communication guide using Auslan. She supports clients who are deaf and deafblind. "I am really passionate about helping the deaf and the deafblind getting full access to the NDIS and seeing how this will help them achieve their independence, confidence and increase their social skills."
About the NDIS Champions program
Would your business, organisation or community group benefit from a free information session on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), delivered by a person with disability in your local area?
Do you want to know more about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)? Do you want to understand what it will mean for people with disability?
The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) has recently employed and trained 30 people with disabilities from all over Australia to become NDIS Champions - to deliver reliable, fact-checked information about the NDIS in their local communities.
NDIS Champions presentations have answers to the most frequently asked questions, including:
- What is the NDIS?
- Who can access it?
- Why do we need it?
- How does it work?
- What do I need to do?
- NDIS Plans
- And more
If your business, organisation, or community group would benefit from a free information session on the NDIS, you can fill out an Expression of interest form (online or PDF), or contact your local Champion directly using the contact details on the Champions' page.
Note: NDIS Champions presentations were free during late 2016, but the project funding for this has ended. The Champions we trained are now working independently as presenters, and are charging modest fees to cover their time, expenses and expertise. Contact your local NDIS Champion to find out more.
Contact details
If you would like Janelle to make a presentation about the NDIS to your organisation, business or group, you can email her at jenellemacri@gmail.com.
Download Janelle's NDIS Champions flyer (PDF, 1 page, 160kb)
