Outsider Perspective Drives Transformative Disability Support Approach
TL;DR
Ability to Achieve's outsider perspective gives them an advantage in simplifying complex disability support systems, helping families navigate services more effectively than traditional providers.
Ability to Achieve uses consistent, patient support work with forward-thinking planning to help participants achieve goals through incremental steps toward independence.
Ability to Achieve transforms lives by helping people with disabilities gain independence, recover from addiction, and participate fully in their communities.
An IT executive's lack of disability sector knowledge became his greatest asset in making support services more accessible and understandable for families.
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Michael Jones entered the disability services sector with no background knowledge, lacking familiarity with clinical terminology, therapy protocols, or behavior support plans. What initially seemed like a considerable hurdle has become his greatest advantage in leading Ability to Achieve, a disability support provider serving over 200 participants across Sydney, Canberra, and Wollongong. "Numerous families struggle to comprehend the system as well—the therapy jargon, behavior support plans, OT language," Jones explains. "Coming from outside the field, I can relate to them from that same viewpoint. I can simplify complex processes into terms that everyday families can grasp."
This outsider perspective has fundamentally shaped the organization's operational approach. While clinical expertise remains crucial behind the scenes, Ability to Achieve emphasizes making support accessible, comprehensible, and effective in enhancing participants' daily lives. Jones observes that while public discussions about the National Disability Insurance Scheme often revolve around costs and controversies, something entirely different occurs daily: lives being fundamentally altered through consistent, patient, and skilled support work.
Standard shifts for community support workers encompass much more than supervision. Workers assist participants in achieving goals through what Jones describes as "building blocks"—helping individuals apply for university, obtain identification documents, practice using public transport independently, or gain confidence in social situations. "Support workers are thinking four to five steps ahead every shift," Jones states. "They're not just managing the present moment—they're working towards long-term independence. This type of work demands constant vigilance, deep commitment, and genuine care."
The organization has facilitated transformations that counter negative perceptions of the NDIS. While safeguarding participant privacy, Jones shares that one participant who previously spent 365 days a year in the hospital now lives independently. Another individual struggling with severe addiction has been drug-free for three months and counting. Several participants have transitioned from requiring one-on-one care to shared supported living, and one individual has successfully transitioned completely off the NDIS after three years of consistent progress. "These are not isolated incidents—this is what occurs when support is consistent, compassionate, and focused on genuine outcomes," Jones remarks.
Jones believes the public perception of the NDIS remains mixed, with those lacking lived experience often viewing it as a financial burden while families who depend on it witness firsthand how life-changing it can be. "The NDIS is functioning. Lives are being transformed every day across this nation," he emphasizes. "Certainly, the system requires ongoing adjustments—that's true for any large-scale program. But the outcomes are evident when providers are dedicated to real transformation rather than merely ticking boxes." He points to Australia's structured disability support system as helping prevent issues seen in other countries, such as homelessness crises observed in parts of the United States.
What sets Jones's approach apart is his commitment to remaining engaged and hands-on despite holding the title of CEO. He actively participates with participants and engages with operational realities, ensuring that Ability to Achieve's culture reflects its values in practice, not just in policy documents. "Our aim is to continue growing while avoiding over-corporatization or losing sight of what truly matters," Jones states. "We will remain participant-centered, grounded, and driven by heart. Everyone who becomes part of Ability to Achieve must embody this vision—not just recite it—because that is the only way real transformation occurs." For more information about their approach, visit https://abilitytoachieve.com.au/.
As Australia continues to discuss and refine the NDIS, voices like Jones's provide essential insight: the system, when executed with dedication and compassion, produces outcomes that dramatically change lives. His transition from corporate IT leader to passionate advocate for disability care illustrates that fresh perspectives—unencumbered by "how things have always been done"—can foster meaningful innovation in support delivery. "Every individual deserves the opportunity to create the life they desire," Jones reflects. "Support workers play a crucial role in making that possible—one shift, one conversation, one small victory at a time. That is the narrative that deserves to be shared."
Curated from Press Services
