The Lake Albert resident is waiting with bated breath for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which will be rolled out in the Riverina from July 1, 2017.

On Friday, an official roll out of the NDIS will begin in select areas of NSW such as the Central Coast, while Wagga residents with a disability will continue to wait. 

Ms Pech is a university student who is also legally blind.

The NDIS will close a loophole that prevents Ms Pech from accessing key funding under the current system.

Despite being an Australian citizen, Ms Pech has only been in the country since 2008, which means she cannot access funding and assistance which should be her right.

“I would have to wait until 2018 to be able to access it,” she said.

“Whereas the NDIS comes to town mid next year, and I will be able to apply for more because it doesn’t have that clause.”

Ms Pech said her disability means securing employment is difficult, however, she hopes the NDIS will help her achieve her goal of a full-time job.

A major obstacle is transport, as the nearest bus stop is two kilometres from her home. 

“I like living here, and I have people telling me ‘oh that is your own fault, you should more to a more central place”, but this is my choice, I want to live here,” Ms Pech said.

 “So why should I have to move to somewhere more central because I am considered to be different?

“I want to be considered like everyone else.”

The NDIS will centre funding around individuals, rather than providers. This will empower people to choose a service that suits them, Ms Pech said.

“I would like to maybe go for a walk three times a week, and I need someone to come with me,” she said. “I would prefer the person to be a female, just because it is culturally acceptable. The NDIS will hopefully enable me to be able to do that.” 

The NDIS is also being highly-anticipated by disability providers in Wagga. Northcott area manager Michael Merrylees said the region will have the benefit of the system arriving here after being road-tested in other areas.

“In some ways it doesn’t change how we operate, we already base our services around the individual’s needs,” he said.