NDIS Services For People With Disability
The NDIS is designed to give people with disability more choice and control over how their supports are delivered. It also guarantees future funding for disability services.
Common NDIS Plan goals include more time with family and friends, finding and maintaining employment, and increasing social connections. Services to achieve these goals may include physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
Home Modifications
Home modification services are available for participants who need to make changes to their homes. These include installing equipment to help with mobility, safety and independence. These can range from a new doorway to an entire house renovation.
Structural works that are confined to and directly related to the scope of home modifications in a participant’s plan are considered reasonable and necessary funded support. These may include a wider external entrance, or a recessed sub-floor to allow for a step less shower base.
If a participant has a goal to build a new home, they should consult their NDIS planner and therapy team. Occupational therapists are often qualified to assess the suitability of new dwellings for disability related needs. However, the costs of any additional alterations beyond those agreed in the scope of work will not be funded by the NDIS.
Transport
NDIS participants can choose from different types of transport assistance services, depending on their individual needs and goals. These can include community buses, taxis or modifications to their existing private vehicle.
NDIA funding may also cover public transport training or driving lessons, if this is part of your goal to improve your ability to use public transportation independently. However, this type of funding isn’t available to pay a family member to drive you around.
NDIS transport costs can be included in your plan, and can cover costs like road tolls, parking fees or public transport fares. Alternatively, a worker can be paid out of core support funds to accompany you in your own vehicle for community participation. This is known as apportioning. Expenses can be charged fortnightly.
Education
Most participants in the NDIS will receive some disability supports related to their education. NDIS participants can request access to these supports at their NDIS planning meeting, and they may need to meet the access requirements to be able to receive them.
Some NDIS participants with disability are enrolled in schools and need support to remain at school or to transition to post-school options such as training and employment. The NDIS can fund these supports if they are deemed reasonable and necessary.
Improved Learning is one of the sub-categories of NDIS Capacity Building funding and can be used to support people with disability on their path to further education or gaining qualifications. This could include courses, training or advice from professionals. The NDIS can also provide assistance to find a suitable provider.
Therapy
The NDIS services provides participants with a range of therapy options, including Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Psychology and Physiotherapy. These services can help participants accomplish everyday tasks and achieve their goals, such as improving mobility or helping them to communicate more easily.
The new psychosocial recovery coach support item provides participants with the option of choosing a qualified person with lived experience or learnt knowledge of psychosocial disability and mental health to work alongside them. This will increase choice, flexibility and value for participants.
Principals may receive requests from NDIS funded therapists to undertake ongoing therapy at school. These requests can be accommodated by schools and complement holistic student planning and support processes. However, principals must be mindful that their duty of care for students is not delegated to NDIS funded therapists visiting on school premises.
Personal Care
NDIS participants can use personal care funding to get assistance with the things they need to live comfortably and independently. This includes bathing, dressing, and grooming, as well as mobility and toileting support.
Caregiving is a demanding job and requires a lot of time and energy. This is why NDIS plans often include respite care services to give caregivers a chance to take a break and attend to their own needs.
Personal care support is a highly personalised service and will be tailored to your goals and needs. It is important to find the right service provider for you who can offer quality and reliability. This can be done by asking questions to assess their experience and skills. It is also advisable to ask about their pricing arrangements and price limits.