What is Disability Accommodation?

What is Disability Accommodation (1)

Disability accommodation is an umbrella term for a range of accommodation or supported living services that are available to assist people who are living with a disability. Disability accommodation may include, or be used to refer to, such services or options as:

  • Short-term Accommodation and respite care.
  • Medium-term Accommodation.
  • Supported Independent Living (SIL), previously known as Group Homes.
  • Specialist disability accommodation (SDA).
  • Accessible housing.

The services are generally funded by, or accessed with the assistance of, the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme).

What is Disability Accommodation? | Disability

Accommodation and Support Services for People with A Disability

Short-Term Accommodation, also known as Respite Care, is accommodation and supported living services for people with a disability.

The funding provided by the NDIS for short-term accommodation or Respite Care enables people with a disability to access accommodation and support services in a place other than their usual home for a period of up to 28 days per year, in as flexible a manner as the recipient and/or their carer chooses.

What is Disability Accommodation? | Disability

What Is Short-Term Accommodation and Respite Care?

Short-term accommodation and respite care options are designed for people living with a disability. Short-Term Accommodation services can be provided by organisations that may or may not be registered with the NDIS, in a specialised facility or shared or individual living environment, with as much or as little support as the person with a disability requires (here is a list of accredited and approved as NDIS service providers).

What is Disability Accommodation? | Disability

How Do I Access Short-Term Accommodation and Respite Care?

Short-Term Accommodation or Respite Care may be accessed:

  • in emergency situations where the usual carer is unavailable to provide care due to unforeseen circumstances
  • on a regular and on-going basis – one weekend a month or one week every three months, for example
  • on an ad-hoc basis when the usual carer/s require a break (respite) from the duties and/or stresses of caring for a person living with a disability.

Short-Term Accommodation or Respite Care may also be accessed to provide an opportunity for the person with a disability to:

What is Disability Accommodation? | Disability

What Is Medium-Term Accommodation for People Living with A Disability?

Medium-Term Accommodation for people with a disability refers to accommodation and supported living services offered by accredited and approved NDIS service providers.

The funding for Medium-Term Accommodation enables people with a disability to access accommodation and support services in a shared or individual living environment for a period of up to 90 days at a time. This is often accessed while the person with a disability awaits Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).

What is Disability Accommodation? | Disability

What Is Supported Independent Living (SIL)?

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is a service funded by the NDIS that is designed to enable people living with a disability to live their life as independently as possible. SIL is available via a range of accommodation options, though is frequently offered within a shared living (or group home) environment with support, assistance and supervision provided by specialist support workers.

Depending on the abilities and requirements of the individual, support workers may provide assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), including:

  • Personal care.
  • Household management (e.g., budgeting, cleaning and shopping).
  • Transport.
  • Clinical/medical needs (e.g., administering medication or managing physical, mental or cognitive conditions or disabilities).

There are a variety of Supported Independent Living models available, tailored to the needs of the individual, such as:

  • A support worker is on-site to provide 24/7 assistance.
  • A support worker is available, or on-site, for emergencies
  • A support worker attends the home on a ‘drop in’ basis at specific times, to assist with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

Although pricing is capped by the NDIS, inclusions and costs associated with these services vary from one service provider to another. Likewise, the quality, security, and reliability of SIL services can vary significantly, depending on whether the service provider is accredited and approved by NDIS, and it is important to ensure the services included meet the needs of the person accessing them.

ConnectAbility offers Supported Independent Living services that are carefully matched to each individual’s needs, wants and future aspirations, with accommodation options in a variety of locations across Newcastle, Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter, and down to the Central Coast and upper Northern Sydney.

What is Disability Accommodation? | Disability

What Are Concierge Support Services?

Concierge Support Services are frequently provided as part of, or alongside of, SIL services. The concierge model of SIL provides a lower level of support and offers the individual more flexibility and control over how, when and by whom support is provided.

Concierge services are frequently provided for people with a disability who live in apartment style accommodation. Support workers, located in a separate space within the apartment building or complex, are available to provide as much or as little support as and when required.

The concierge support service may be used to access emergency or additional support in tandem with another service provider who provides daily SIL services, or the one provider may be used to provide both services as required.

In addition to a range of Supported Independent Living options, ConnectAbility also offers a concierge model of service, across a variety of locations in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and Port Stephens areas, the Hunter and Central Coast regions, and upper Northern Sydney. Concierge support services are tailored to a person’s exact needs and wants and are designed to assist the individual to live as autonomously and independently as possible.

What is Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)?

What is Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)?

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is accommodation for people with severe functional impairments or very high support needs who require specialist housing solutions. The NDIS funding for SDA is allocated to the housing in which support services are provided, not the support services themselves.

This funding is intended to encourage innovation and investment in the development of new high-quality dwellings, specifically designed for use by eligible NDIS participants. Funding under this scheme is limited by strict eligibility criteria, with support available to a very small number of NDIS participants.

ConnectAbility can assist eligible individuals and their carers to find suitable specialist disability accommodation, tailored to each person’s unique needs, across the Hunter region, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, the Central Coast, and upper Northern Sydney.

What is Disability Accommodation? | Disability

Access Disability Accommodation and Support Through ConnectAbility

ConnectAbility Australia provides all the accommodation and support services you need, from helping you to find accommodation and Supported Independent Living services that are perfectly matched to your individual needs, wants and future aspirations.

If you would like more information on how ConnectAbility can help a person with a disability to live more independently, please call us on 02 4962 1000 (Newcastle) or 02 4349 3700 (Central Coast). Alternatively, you can email us at contact@connectabilityaus.org.au or complete our contact form to have a ConnectAbility representative contact you.

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