I won't go into specific detail regarding my crash (there is plenty of it on KB if you want to search for info), but the short version is (and there is a point to bringing this up again):
I crashed about 9 months ago, breaking most of the stuff on the outside and inside, of the right side of my body. I was left with a few serious life long injuries, a couple internal and a couple external. The main ones are the complete paralysis of my right arm (shoulder down, and yes, I WAS right handed), and a tear on my thoracic aorta (main artery from the heart, which was grafted).
Since then, my life has been on hold, completely. I go to work, doctors appointments, physio and ACC case manager appointments only, and that's it. I am not allowed to drive (until ACC ok given), and I'm so unfit/weak that walking to the bus stop used to be out the question. I've been to 2 or 3 kb events, and the movies 3 times in the last 9 months, thats it.
The reason is, apart from the actual recovery (been 9 months, looks like it will be another 24 - 36), now that I'm on ACC, there are ALOT of procedures, policies, processes and rehab committments that I need to go through / fulfil. I get driven to all aforementioned destinations, by ACC funded taxi (which has been adding up BIG time, I live a long way from work), and hence one of the big reasons for the main part of the ACC adventure to be hurried along.
At first there were countless medical appointments, scans, tests, etc to monitor my health. There were countless ACC appointments at the same time to establish "rehabilitation programs", "in-home care requirements", transportation needs, weekly compensation for my loss of earnings, etc... I also have an occupational assessor who meets me regularly at work, to assess what I need at work to facilitate my return to work (which I did 6 months ago, but I'm still only working small part-time hours). I need to visit my doctor every few weeks to renew medication scripts, get a checkup, at times get more tests, renew the medical certificate (ACC requires a continually current one), etc...
I had to have my driving assessed at an occupational driving assessment agency in 3 phases (computer based, home assessment and on road practical), which I passed with flying colors (tested to the same level as normal drivers, err, 2 handed ones.). I had to be assessed by an ACC approved medical assessor, to assess (see how repetitive it gets! har har...) the level of "disability" I have, taking into account my main injuries, as well as the dozen or so other ones, to reach a financial figure which I get for the level of disabilty that I'm left with.
AND NOW MY POINT
And you know what I think of all that? I LOVE IT! I would reccommend that you think before complaining about ACC, or before you perpetuate the usual slagging them off routine. Yes they add heaps onto your vehicle registration, and yes they take a long time to get something done (as I know full well), but you guys don't know how lucky you are to live somewhere where this is available, or mandatory.
Coming from a country where I would have gotten nothing, no free surgery/medical care, no free hospital stay, no home assistance, no loss of earnings assistance, no job when I'm ready to work, no help at future employment, if there was any, no free medication / cost assistance, no loss of limb entitlement, no vehicle financial assistance, no physio/rehab, no psychologist, I can go on, and on....
I'm by no means rich after this, or fit & healthy, but I can now finally go out and get a car (which they modify for me, by adding a spinner on the wheel) and regain my, what's that word I'm looking for..um..oh yes, independence, and get my life back on track. Granted, it will be a very slow process, and I'll never get back to where I was, but I'll get somewhere different, which is better than nothing at all. And you're not powerless when dealing with ACC, my first case manager, who had just started the job, was by leaps and bounds unable to satisfactorily deal with my case. After repeated "errors", we took the matter one level higher, and got him/her "removed" from my case, and a new case manager appointed. He/she has since that day, been instrumental in the smooth running of my case, and I feel that I would never have gotten to where I am now without him/her. Dealing with a good case manager (or even friend/ally), is sometimes the key to reaching a satisfactory goal, especially when you know nothing about ACC, or it's procedures and benefits.
That's all I have to say on that matter, since I now plan to move forwardI'll still deal with ACC (and will do for about another 3 years), but it will be in more of a sideline assistance capacity, as apposed to a controlling your life one.
Dave.
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The best way to forget all your troubles is to wear tight underpants.
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