If you are an NDIS participant or know someone that is looking for the perfect SDA house in Melbourne, discover what the leading NDIS provider at Posity will be sharing.
We have asked Faz Mohitian, Director and SDA specialist of Posity to share with us again his insights of SDA.
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What are the differences between SDA and SIL?
SDA are homes; units or apartments that have been specially modified and designed. These homes are built to support NDIS participants who are in need of high support needs. The funds for SDA support the bricks and mortar; housing solutions.
A SDA housing design comes with access spaces, amenities or special lighting to help participants receive other supports more safely and conveniently as well as live a much more comfortable life.
On the other hand, SIL supports NDIS Participants to live as independently as possible. SIL is a fund service that helps participants enjoy their independence, make new friends and get the daily support they need. Hence, these supports can include tasks such as meal preparation, cleaning, personal care, social skills and clinical support.
So, if participants need both specialist housing solutions and daily support – SDA and SIL will be funded separately in the participant’s NDIS plan. This provides participants with a great range of home choices catered for their needs and SIL supports of their choice.
What are the criteria to apply for SDA?
It is crucial to take note that NOT every individual with a disability is eligible to live in a SDA. Numerous aspects will be taken into consideration by The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) as well.
Two of the most important criteria to obtain SDA is making sure that:
- Participants’ major functional impairment will cause major inconveniences to them while carrying out daily tasks. For participants of this category, NDIA will look into the participant’s living goals and current home and work together to improve their living conditions.
- Participants’ major functional impairment has caused major inconveniences to carry out many daily tasks. Even with home modifications, participants of this category would need long hours of support from someone else to move around, conduct self-care and self-management activities. Some of these include getting in and out of bed, climbing the stairs, getting dressed, going to the toilet, doing house chores and going out for social activities.
What are the different types of SDA funds for participants?
There is a range of different design categories and building types. SDA is classified into four types. These are known as the SDA Design Categories
1) First SDA Design Category is the “Improved Liveability” SDA
A good example for Improved Liveability category is for NDIS Participants who find it difficult to see or understand what is going on around them. Improved Liveability SDA makes it convenient and easy for participants to move around. Participants can expect their doorways, handles, and switches to be easily visible, and it is often possible to see from one room to the other, that can be controlled with their voice or a device are instances of this.
2) Second SDA Design Category is the “Robust” SDA
If an NDIS participant occasionally acts in a way that is unsafe for them or those around them, Robust SDA may be right for them. A Robust home’s walls, windows, and other components are not easily broken. It has good soundproofing, so sounds from outside would not bother them, and any noises they make do not bother their neighbours. A Robust home will also have a secure area where NDIS Participants, other residents or staff can go to keep themselves safe.
3) Third SDA Design Category is the “Fully Accessible” SDA
This is for NDIS Participants who have a significant physical disability. If the participant has a significant physical disability, then Fully Accessible SDA could be for them. NDIS Participants who qualify for the Fully Accessible category would frequently be using a wheelchair to move around from time to time or at the time. A Fully Accessible home has no steps. The doorways are large enough to allow a wheelchair. The bathroom and kitchen are often designed to be used by participants who are sitting, as well as standing.
4) Forth SDA Design Category is the “High Physical Support” SDA
This is for NDIS Participants who use an electric wheelchair or a hoist to get in and out of bed, or if participants require many hours of support every day, High Physical Support SDA may very well be right for them. A High Physical Support home includes all of the features of a Fully Accessible SDA home, as well as emergency backup power and a ceiling strong enough to support a ceiling hoist. Usually, it comes with an intercom that helps connect the participant to a nearby support worker. It could also include technological aids tailored to the needs of the participant who lives there. Doors, lights, and heating that can be controlled with their voice or a device are instances of this.
In SDA, there are also five different types of buildings.
- The first type of building is apartments. They are self-contained “apartments” within a larger residential building.
- The second type of building is the “Duplexes, villas and townhouses”. It is separated but semi-attached houses on a single plot of land, which includes housing such as granny flats.
- The third type of building is the “Houses”. It has Detached low-rise dwellings with a garden or a courtyard.
- The fourth type of building is the “group homes”. It is for long-term housing for four or five people.
- The fifth type of building is “Larger dwellings” that can accommodate more than 5 long-term residents.
If participants are eligible for the SDA funds, are there any expenses that they have to pay?
If an NDIS Participant is eligible for the SDA, the good news is that NDIS will be funding for the participant’s living expenses in SDA. This will cover the physical environment in which the participants live, the features for home modifications, and any disability-related housing costs such as bills, groceries and rent.
Get to know about the pricing and payment for SDA on the NDIS website.
Can you share with us how you help your NDIS participants at Posity with SDA?
We have a unique position at Posity to assist NDIS participants reach their goals. We specialise in Occupational Therapy as well as Building and construction. Our occupational therapists can assist participants with their full functional assessment, Assistive Technology Assessment, Home Modification and SDA Assessment. Our construction managers will ensure the buildings are built to the highest level of standards with the most updated technologies, instead of just “meeting the requirements”. We have the best of both worlds and we hope to assist as many participants.
1) Housing Assessment Report
NDIA administers the NDIS and hence examines a variety of information to determine whether or not a person requires assistance. NDIA will evaluate information from doctors or allied health professionals, and any details from current providers, and the participant’s daily support needs.
Therefore, with the best NDIS services combination of Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathologist and SDA from our health professionals at Posity, we advise and provide our NDIS Participants with a comprehensive assessment report. This comprehensive assessment report will help address the participant’s health condition, the participant’s needs and expectations for future homes.
2) Complete the Home and Living Supports Request Form
Then, complete the Home and Living Supports Request Form. This is not an assessment or report. NDIA will review this form to help participants identify the best home and living support. A homely space can support participants to achieve their goals or determine other home and living supports that are more suitable, instead of an SDA.
NDIS provide funds that ultimately aims to:
- Develop skills for participant’s independence
- Support participants to live independently in the community, improve social and communication skills, living skills and household management
- Home modifications to participant’s current home
- Assistance to complete daily tasks
- Aiding technologies to help participants’ independence Funds for SDAs is all about making a better difference to improve participants’ independence. In other words, it is important to make sure that the participant’s NDIS plan consists of important goals that convey messages of “live as independently as possible.”
Tell us more about Posity’s SDA and your other best services
When it comes to our SDA at Posity, we are not a volume builder. Above all, we take pride in each house to turn it into a home for our fellow participants. Posity helps participants find the right home that they love according to their needs, and with whom they wish to live together under a roof. We support their decision journey in the course of choosing the best residential location, that suits their lifestyle.
Besides that, we also ensure that participants receive the sorts of accessibility features they need as well as other through and through supports. And this other support can be from our other best services as well; Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology.
How can participants who are interested in SDA get in touch with Posity?
Reach out to us by contacting us at 0449 612 283 or connect with us on Facebook. If participants have any concerns and wish to enquire for more information about NDIS, send us a message and we shall get back to them as soon as we can.
