Supporting NDIS participants with complex needs to access safe, suitable accommodation and live as independently as possible.
Our Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists provide practical assessments, therapy, equipment support and recommendations for people living in, or transitioning into, Specialist Disability Accommodation.
The purpose of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) under the NDIS is to provide housing for people with very high support needs, typically those with physical and/or intellectual disabilities who require varying levels of support.
Prior to being eligible for SDA, NDIS participants are assessed by an Occupational Therapist. The purpose of the assessment is to determine if the supports are reasonable and necessary. If so, the NDIA will pay for the costs of their SDA.
SDA is compatible with many types of properties, including apartments, villas, duplexes, townhouses, houses, group homes and shared homes.
Goal-focused accommodation support
We help participants and their support network understand whether accommodation, assessments, equipment or modifications may be needed.
Total Health Choice primarily works with adult NDIS participants over 18 years old with a physical and/or neurological disability.
We are capable of supporting high and complex needs. During initial discussions, we establish whether we are an appropriate provider for the participant’s situation and goals.
Adult NDIS participants
Support for people with physical and/or neurological disability who may benefit from SDA-related allied health services.
High and complex needs
We discuss the participant’s needs and determine the most appropriate way to provide support.
Total Health Choice provides a range of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy services. These mainly consist of:
Our Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists work with participants, support networks and accommodation environments to support practical functional goals.
Physiotherapists help participants with physical needs within SDA. They work collaboratively with Occupational Therapists to help the participant achieve functional goals.
They assess the environment and identify functional deficits that may be improved through rehabilitation and therapy sessions.
Our Occupational Therapists support participants with functional capacity, equipment prescription, environmental changes and other requirements when moving to SDA-type housing.
The goal is to help participants live safely and independently within their homes in line with their capacity.
SDA housing is often well-equipped for complex needs, with features such as wider doorways, ramps and wheelchair access.
We can still perform home modification assessments to optimise the environment further, such as recommending an additional railing where it may benefit the participant.
Total Health Choice has experience supporting NDIS participants who are transitioning into or out of SDA. When someone is moving into a new location, we may be contacted to send an Occupational Therapist to assess the property.
We provide guidance to make the transition as seamless as possible and help ensure the accommodation is set up to meet the participant’s needs and allow maximum independence.
Our Occupational Therapist may perform a joint access visit with the participant and walk through the property together to identify small thresholds, such as a need for a rail on a door.
Our Therapists can help participants build skills in a new environment and monitor modification or equipment requirements during the transition, or for as long as our input is required.
There are many possible assessments that can be conducted in SDA environments, depending on the participant, their status, goals and reason for contacting us.
Typically, an Occupational Therapist visits the residence before the participant moves in. This helps ensure the property is safe to access and allows the participant to live as independently as possible in an optimally set-up environment. In many cases, an NDIS support coordinator identifies appropriate accommodation and schedules the required assessments in advance.
There can also be ongoing assessments after the participant has moved in. The primary assessments Total Health Choice performs are:
We conduct an assessment appropriate for the individual. For a participant with primarily physical disabilities, we may assess motor patterns, strength and balance. For someone with intellectual, learning or sensory-processing disability, our assessment and recommendations may focus on different environmental or support needs.
For example, someone severely affected by sensory processing may need a quiet environment with limited people, no regular emotional outbursts around them and a quiet room where they can feel safe.
Living in an SDA environment does not mean a participant’s goals are SDA specific.
The process for setting goals with SDA participants is the same as for other NDIS participants. The broader purpose of the NDIS is to support safe living, capacity building, community access and a reasonable and necessary level of life and independence.
Participants are encouraged to identify personal short-term and long-term functional goals, which are listed in the NDIS service agreement.
For example, a participant may work towards gripping cutlery to independently feed themselves, developing the dexterity to play piano, or walking 200 metres around their block.
Setting realistic, mutual goals typically helps motivate progress towards them.
Functional Capacity Assessments refer to an individual’s capability under controlled conditions to perform tasks and activities that are necessary or desirable in their lives. The measurement of functional capacity is specific to each person’s roles and tasks.
Total Health Choice performs an initial assessment using a list of daily tasks, which may include:
A Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist writes clinical comments within the report. Outcome measures may also be used and reassessed periodically to determine whether the participant is improving with functional tasks.
A common outcome measure in the SDA context is WHODAS, a questionnaire that assesses cognition, mobility, self-care, getting along with other people, life activities and participation.
Review dates are stipulated in the NDIS plan.
It is variable.
Each participant’s requirements vary and we tailor the service and frequency of service to the individual. This information is gathered and stipulated during the initial consultation. Variables include review periods, equipment trials and related requirements.
We are a team of caring Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists who are proud to serve the NDIS community.
Please feel free to contact us to discuss the participant’s situation and suitable next steps.
