Specialist disability accommodation (SDA) is NDIS funding for housing that’s been designed and built for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. SDA homes have features that make it easier and safer to live day to day, and to receive the support you need. At Serene Disability Support, we’re a registered NDIS provider, and we can help you understand SDA, apply for it, and set up the daily support that goes with it.
What is specialist disability accommodation?
SDA is about the bricks and mortar. It’s the home itself, not the support that happens inside it. SDA funding goes towards the cost of the home, and the SDA provider who owns or manages the property is paid for each eligible participant who lives there.
SDA is part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme’s home and living supports. Every SDA dwelling has to meet the SDA Design Standard and be certified by an accredited SDA assessor before it can be enrolled. That’s what makes a home SDA certified, not just accessible.
SDA design categories
There are four SDA design categories. Each one has different design features to suit different needs:
- Improved Liveability. Homes with better physical access and features for people with sensory, intellectual or cognitive impairment, like clear layouts and good lighting and contrast.
- Fully Accessible. Homes for people with significant physical impairment, with wheelchair access throughout, including the kitchen and bathroom.
- Robust. Homes built to be resilient and safe for people with complex behaviours, with quiet spaces and tougher fixtures.
- High Physical Support. Homes for people with a high level of physical support needs. Features may include ceiling hoists, backup power and space for assistive technology.
SDA homes also come in different building types, from apartments and villas to houses and small group homes.
Who is eligible for SDA?
Not every NDIS participant is eligible for SDA. To receive SDA funding, the NDIA needs to agree that you have an extreme functional impairment or very high support needs, and that SDA is the right housing option for you.
SDA eligibility is usually assessed using:
- An occupational therapy functional assessment
- A housing or SDA assessment that looks at your current home and options
- Reports from your GP, specialists or other health professionals
- Information about your goals, your daily tasks and the support you need now
How to apply for SDA
To apply for SDA, you’ll generally submit a home and living supports request to the NDIA, along with your evidence. If approved, SDA funding is included in your NDIS plan, and the plan will say which design category and building type you’re funded for.
A support coordinator can help you gather reports and put the request together. If you don’t have one, we can talk you through the steps and what the NDIS usually looks for.
SDA and SIL: what’s the difference?
People often mix up SDA and SIL, because many people have both.
- SDA pays for the home, a purpose-built or modified property.
- SIL pays for the support workers who help with personal care, meals and daily living inside the home.
You can have SDA without SIL, and SIL without SDA. If you need help at home, take a look at supported independent living or shared living support. For some people, an Individualised Living Option (ILO) is another path worth asking about.
How Serene can help with SDA
We don’t just point you to a list of SDA housing providers. We help you work out what you need and support you once you’ve moved in. Here’s what we bring:
- Help to find a home. We can help you look for SDA vacancies that suit your design category and preferred area.
- Nurse-led support. Our founder is an ICU-trained registered nurse, so complex health needs are understood from the start. We can add community nursing care if you need it.
- Registered and compliant. We work to the NDIS Practice Standards and the Quality and Safeguards Commission’s rules.
- Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD). With multilingual staff and interpreters, we can talk with you and your family in any language.
Getting started with SDA
If you think specialist disability accommodation could be right for you, or you’re a support coordinator looking for options for a participant, give us a call. We’ll talk about your needs, your NDIS plan and the kind of home that works for you, and we’ll get back to you within one business day. You can also browse all of our registered NDIS services.