Having a disability does not mean that a person is incapable of doing anything. Nevertheless, disabilities do impede the daily lives of many Australians today. In fact, more than 4 million Australians have existing disabilities. This number accounts for 18% of the population in the country. Out of the 4 million people individuals with disabilities, around 500,000 have permanent and significant disabilities.

To empower individuals with disabilities, the Australian government instituted a stronger and more coherent system called the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Read along to know more about NDIS.

What is the National Disability Insurance Scheme?

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) oversees the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Unlike what many may think, this is not a welfare system. Instead, this scheme is developed to give people with disabilities the support they need so they can get started on their road to independence.

The support that NDIS provides includes information, connections, and services within local communities. These are connections and assistance related to schools, support groups, sporting clubs, and physicians, among others. NDIS also offers information on the types of assistance one can get from the national level to the community level.

What are the objectives of NDIS?

NDIS was established after the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 was passed. This act will replace the existing disability care and support system under the National Disability Agreement.

The NDIS seeks to add more balanced funding to all eligible participants. This also serves as a more cohesive effort in providing access to services across all participating states and territories in Australia. These are some of the main objectives of NDIS:

• Provide reasonable and necessary forms of support to people with disabilities
• Support and encourage the independence of the people with disabilities about their social and economic participation in society
• Let people with disabilities have the chance to set their goals and plan the way in which they want to receive support
• Make sure that the types of support provided to people with disabilities are innovative and high-quality
• Ensure that the scheme remains consistent nationally in terms of funding and development

Are all people with disabilities covered by NDIS?

NDIS offers support to eligible individuals with disabilities. That means NDIS does not cover all people with disabilities. The National Disability Insurance Scheme only provides support to those with permanent and significant disabilities. These disabilities can range from physical, sensory, intellectual, psychosocial to cognitive disabilities.

A permanent disability is a type of disability that will likely last through the whole life of the person with a disability. This means that there’s no hope for recovery at all. Some examples of permanent disabilities include loss of limbs, blindness, or complete paralysis of limbs.

A significant disability is one where a person’s disability (whether temporary or permanent) has a significant impact on their ability to perform daily activities for work and leisure. When combined together, a permanent and significant disability is one where the lifelong disability of a person is substantial enough to affect the way they live their everyday lives.

What does being an NDIS participant entail?

NDIS participants will receive the reasonable and necessary support to help them achieve their goals. In addition, every participant will have a plan specifically made for them. These plans have different goals, including things like getting equipment to aid one’s disability, improving communication skills through speech therapy, learning new skills for a new job, or becoming more independent.

After having an individual NDIS plan, the person with a disability will work with their service provider to pursue their goals. NDIS plans can also be used to get access to assistive technology, complete home modifications, or look for a carer.

The NDIS individual plan is an important aspect of the scheme. Having such goals mean that this will not be a welfare project. Instead of simply depending on the NDIA for all their needs, NDIS participants will have the chance to work on themselves so that they can be self-sufficient in the future.

What are the requirements in getting access to individualised support in NDIS?

Apart from being a person with a permanent and significant disability, there are other requirements before one can officially start having access to NDIS support:

• The person must reside in an area where NDIS is available
• The person with a disability must meet the residency requirements. A person must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident in Australia, or a Protected Special Category Visa holder.
• The individual must be under 65 years old when the support was requested.
• The person should meet the early intervention or disability requirements.

What types of support are available to eligible people with disabilities?

Individualised support to individuals with disabilities comes in all forms, from education, living arrangements, to health and wellbeing. Here are some of the types of support NDIS may fund for eligible participants:

• Transport costs to encourage community participation
• Assistance in daily personal activities
• Workplace assistance
• Therapeutic support
• Help with household tasks
• Assistance of skilled personnel
• Home modification
• Vehicle modifications
• Mobility equipment

How to apply access for NDIS

To those who fit the criteria for NDIS assistance, they can reach out to NDIS by calling 1800 800 110. They can also complete the Access Request form and send it to NAT@ndis.gov.au.  Individuals who are unsure of how to fill out the form can reach out to their local area coordinator for more assistance.

Those seeking to get access to NDIS will be asked to confirm their identity. Those who cannot verify their identity can have authorised representatives to act on their behalf. There, the individual will be questioned about NDIS access requirements, consent regarding disclosure of disability, as well as other questions about the application.

Get Disability Support in Australia with the National Disability Insurance Scheme

The National Disability Insurance Scheme aims to help people triumph over their disabilities. With NDIS’ assistance, people with disabilities can empower themselves by setting individual goals to become more functional and independent in the future.If you are an eligible person with a disability, set up an appointment with Elevate Support Care. As an NDIS provider, you can count on us to help you reach your goals. Call us on 1300 266 027 or email support@elevatesupportcare.com today. You may also click here to know more about us.