Ndis cheat sheet general public james

SPECIALIST AND DOCTORS’ NDIS BASICS CHEAT SHEET Prepared by Jane Carrigan, NDIS Appeals Project Worker Darwin Community Legal Service 08 8982 111

Over 4 million Australians have varying levels of disability and/or chronic illness. The National Disability Insurance Scheme ( and the NDIS) is only only intended to cover approximately 460,000 of those people.

To be eligible for the NDIS people must be aged between 6 and 65 and have a permanent and significant disability which affects their ability to take part in everyday activities.

They must also be either;   

an Australian citizen /a permanent resident a h or holder of a protected special category visa aged reasonable and necessary

 For children under 6 there is Early Childhood, Early Intervention (ECEI) funding.

Over 4 million Australians have varying levels of disability or chronic illness. NDIS is only intended to cover approximately 460,000 of those people. Therefore only Australian citizens with a permanent and significant disability which affects the person’s ablity to take part in every day activities (see criteria set out below) will receive funding. Doctors’ doing up a Medical Report for a person under 65 who is entering/accessing the NDIS scheme need to address the person’s disabilities against the persons/child goals and aspirations.

Also note that for children under 7 there is an Early Childhood, Early Intervention (ECEI) funding.

Mobility/motor skills moving around the home (crawling/walking), getting in or out of bed or a chair, leaving the home and moving about in the community. Assistance required does not included commonly used items such as glasses, walking sticks, non-slip mats, bathroom grab raisls and hand rails installed at stairs.

Question – does the person require assistance to be mobile because of their disability?

1. Communication: Being understood in spoken, written or sign language, understanding others and express needs and wants by gesture, speech or context appropriate for age.

Question – does the person require assistance to communicate effectively because of their disability?

2. Social Interaction – making and keeping friends, interacting with the community (or playing with other children), coping with feelings and emotions.

Question – does the person require assistance to interact socially because of their disability?

3. Learning – Understanding and remembering information, learning new things, pactising and using new skills.

Question - Does the person require assistance to learn effectively because of their disablitiy?

This 1 page document is prepared by the NDIS project worker with Darwin Community Legal Service (DCLS). This is not legal advice and does not puport to represent all of the NDIS Agency’s promotional material. Another excellent resource is the

SPECIALIST AND DOCTORS’ NDIS BASICS CHEAT SHEET Prepared by Jane Carrigan, NDIS Appeals Project Worker Darwin Community Legal Service 08 8982 111 4. Self-care (not for children under 2) Showering, bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, caring for own health. Assistance required does not include commonly used items such as non-slip bath mats, bathroom grab rails and hand rails installed at stairs.

Question – does the person require assistance with self-care because of their disability?

5. Self-management – doing daily jobs, making decisions, handling money, (not for children under 8) Question – Does the person require assistance with self-management because of their disability?

6. Impairment(s) are likely to be permenant and affect the person’s capacity for social or economic participation.

Against each of the above ask, does the individual need:  assistance from another person (physical assistance, guidance, supervision or prompting);  special equipment;  assistive technolocy.

Note: If acess to the scheme is denied to people, they have the right of appeal. If the the person is accepted into the Scheme and they are unhappy about their funding level they also may appeal. Time restraints attach to making an Appeal. Assistance in appealing may be provided through Darwin Community Legal Service NDIS Appeals Project WorkerTo apply for funding under the NDIS people need to address 7 key areas (referred to as criteria) and provide clear details about:  

the assistance they require (as a result ofbecause of their disability) how the assistance will benefit them 76 7 does the individualdo you (the disabled person) It is important to think about the details, and include them. Things like, : does the person with the disability need help the help of another person?assistance from another person?

This can be physical assistance (lifting), guidance (helping), supervision (watching ready to offer assistance) or prompting (reminding, encouraging).

Include details of all of the itemsthings needed by the person such as special equipment and assistive technology.   Criteria 1.

Mobility/motor skills moving around the home (crawling/walking), getting in or out of bed or a chair, leaving g home and moving about in the community.

Question – does the person require assistance with mobility because of their disability?

Criteria 2.

Communication: Being understood in spoken, written or sign language, understanding others and express needs and wants by gesture, speech or context appropriate for age.

This 1 page document is prepared by the NDIS project worker with Darwin Community Legal Service (DCLS). This is not legal advice and does not puport to represent all of the NDIS Agency’s promotional material. Another excellent resource is the

SPECIALIST AND DOCTORS’ NDIS BASICS CHEAT SHEET Prepared by Jane Carrigan, NDIS Appeals Project Worker Darwin Community Legal Service 08 8982 111 Question – does the person require assistance to communicate effectively because of their disability?

Criteria 3.

Social Interaction – making and keeping friends, interacting with the community (or playing with other children), coping with feelings and emotions.

Question – does the person require assistance to interact socially because of their disability?

This 1 page document is prepared by the NDIS project worker with Darwin Community Legal Service (DCLS). This is not legal advice and does not puport to represent all of the NDIS Agency’s promotional material. Another excellent resource is the

SPECIALIST AND DOCTORS’ NDIS BASICS CHEAT SHEET Prepared by Jane Carrigan, NDIS Appeals Project Worker Darwin Community Legal Service 08 8982 111 Criteria 4.

Learning – Understanding and remembering information, learning new things, practising and using new skills.

Question - Does the person require assistance to learn effectively because of their disability?

Criteria 5.

Self-care (not for children under 2) showering, bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, caring for own health.

Assistance required does not include commonly used items such as non-slip bath mats, bathroom grab rails and stairway handrails.

Question – does the person require assistance with self-care because of their disability?

Criteria 6.

Self-management – doing daily jobs, making decisions, handling money, (not for children under 8).

Question – Does the person require assistance with self-management because of their disability?

Criteria 7.

Impairment(s) are likely to be permanent and affect the person’s capacity for social or economic participation.

Note: If a person with a disability (or their nominee) is unhappy with an NDIS decision there are may be. pathways for appeal. Time constraints apply, so seek the assistance of the NDIS Agency or the NDIS Appeals Project Worker at Darwin Community Legal Service.

This 1 page document is prepared by the NDIS project worker with Darwin Community Legal Service (DCLS). This is not legal advice and does not puport to represent all of the NDIS Agency’s promotional material. Another excellent resource is the