Navigating the NDIS.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an Australian government-funded program that provides support to people with permanent and significant difficulties in independent living. The NDIS is designed to help families access the services and support they need to live an independent life. Despite the benefits, navigating the NDIS system can seem daunting to parents. With so many rules, regulations, providers, companies, and guidelines to understand, it can be hard to know where to start. However, with the right guidance and resources, you can make the most of the NDIS and ensure that your child receives the support they need.
The first step in navigating the NDIS is reaching out to an NDIS worker and creating a plan of action with them. This plan will outline the supports and services that your child needs and the goals they wish to achieve. When creating a plan, it’s important to consider your child’s unique individual goals and needs. If you haven’t already, it can be useful to get a professional assessment of your child’s strengths and difficulties, in areas including their independent functioning, physical health, mental health, cognitive or educational abilities, speech and language, and movement. If you think your child would benefit from an assessment in these areas, see our autism assessment page for details about the assessment services offered by The Evallies Clinic.
Once an assessment is undertaken, you will be provided with a plan, and then you can start looking into the different NDIS providers and services that may be able to help. The NDIS website is a great resource for finding out about providers and services in your area. You can also talk to other parents or carers who have experience with the NDIS to get an idea of how different providers and services may be able to help your child. A fantastic resource and organisation to help you navigate the NDIS is Autism Spectrum Australia (visit www.autismspectrum.org.au/blog/top-tips-for-navigating-the-ndis for more information).
Once you’ve identified the services and supports that your child needs, the next step is to contact the relevant NDIS providers and arrange for services to be provided. It’s important to remember that the NDIS will only fund services that are deemed ‘reasonable and necessary’ for the care of your child. Finally, it’s important to keep up to date with the NDIS and any changes to the scheme. The NDIS website and other resources provide regular updates on new policies and changes to the scheme, so it’s important to stay informed. Navigating the NDIS can be a challenging process, but with the right guidance and resources, it can be an incredibly valuable source of support and assistance. By doing your research, creating a plan, reaching out for help, and staying on top of updates to the scheme, you can ensure that your child receives the support they need.