The NSW Government has announced $3 million for RASAID, the Ryde Area Supported Accommodation for Intellectually Disabled group, to assist them in a pilot program for supported accommodation.

The Minister for Disability Services, Andrew Constance, said that this would enable each of the 19 individuals to determine their own future, using funds provided by the Government.

“The families from RASAID were given false hope by a succession of Labor Disability Services Ministers, who had this proposal on their desks for years, but did nothing,” Mr Constance said.

“The O’Farrell Government has done more for RASAID in 10 weeks, than Labor did in 10 years.”

RASAID will be allowed to choose the care packages that best suit their children’s needs.

“Instead of families waiting for their child’s placement in a group, RASAID will be able to determine the model of care their children want and shape it themselves,” Mr Constance said. “We want to give people with a disability and their families more control over their lives into the future.”

Ryde MP Victor Dominello has thanked Minister Constance for his leadership and RASAID for their strong advocacy. “For several years, the families from RASAID have been calling out for supported accommodation for their adult children,” Mr Dominello said. “This is an exciting time for the group, and an example of the O’Farrell Government’s person centred approach to disability funding in action.”