Are you living in Australia and wondering how the NDIS can help you achieve your goals? The scheme currently has over 500,000 Australians who are beneficiaries and plays a significant role in empowering them with support and assistance. This includes increasing access to allied health supports, education and employment opportunities. Let’s see what the NDIS is all about and examine how the scheme empowers participants in Australia.
Overview of the NDIS
What’s the NDIS?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a national program meant to help Australians with disability. It provides funded supports to reach their goals.
Which Supports and Services Does NDIS Fund?
From the NDIS, participants can choose the support and services to pay for based on their goals. These can fall into three main categories (also known as Support Purposes).
- Core – This includes support that helps a participant through daily activities.
- Capital – This can include an investment such as assistive technology, special equipment, or home modification such as ramps.
- Capacity Building – This includes support that helps a participant increase their capacity and independence.
Similarly, the NDIS will not fund support if:
- It’s not related to a participant’s disability.
- It’s offered by other government agencies.
- It’s likely to harm a participant or others.
- It’s illegal
- It relates to daily costs not associated with a participant’s support needs.
How to Manage NDIS Funds
Participants can choose how they manage their funds. The plan funds can be managed as follows:
- Self-Management – It means that you get to manage your funding. This gives a participant the flexibility to decide the supports and services to pay for as they pursue their goals. You can seek guidance from your local area coordinator or talk to someone self-managing their funds. Also, the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) offers a guide to self-manage your funds effectively.
- Plan Management – A disability plan manager is an NDIS-registered provider who provides financial intermediary services to a participant. Essentially the plan role of a Plan Manager is to make claims for service with the NDIS and pay your providers. You can use both registered and unregistered providers when you choose the Plan Management option.
- NDIA Managed Funding – The NDIS pays for a provider on your behalf to help you achieve your goals and needs.
What are the Benefits of the NDIS Plan?
Here’s how the insurance scheme helps participants:
- Individualised Support- Each participant has unique needs. Hence this is considered while preparing support plans for them. This way, it helps determine how the funding will help them participate in the community.
- Access to Support- The scheme provides funding for many services, that may include domestic support, personal care, therapy and equipment. This helps participants live more independently and increase their social and economic participation with their communities.
- Independence to Choose Support Staff and Service Provider- People with disability have the choice and control over the types of support they need and from whom. The NDIS gives freedom and flexibility to choose service providers they see fit for their lifestyle.
Understanding Empowerment for People with Disability
What is empowerment?
Empowerment comes when a participant can be involved in the process of decision making and increasing independence in their life. For people with disability, this might involve overcoming barriers that make it hard to lead a comfortable life and participate in the community.
What are some barriers that people with Disability may face?
1. Communication barriers : People with disability may struggle to communicate effectively due to speech or language difficulties, hearing or visual impairments, or cognitive disabilities.
2. Physical barriers : Inaccessible buildings, lack of ramps or elevators, and uneven terrain can limit the mobility and independence of people with disability.
3. Social barriers : Negative attitudes, stereotypes, and exclusionary environments can isolate people with disability, restricting social interactions and opportunities for participation.
4. Transportation barriers : Inaccessible public transportation systems and a lack of specialised services can hinder the mobility and freedom of movement for people with disability.
To understand the empowerment of people with disability, it’s crucial to acknowledge that these barriers can make it hard for community inclusion.
How Does NDIS Services Support the Empowerment of People with Disabilities?
These include:
- Access to supports to overcome Education and Employment barriers
The NDIS helps increase access to training and employment opportunities. Participants have an opportunity for support such as interview preparations, skill training or job coaching. This helps increase employment opportunities that contribute positively to financial independence.
- Support for Community Participation
NDIS services goal is to increase community participation for individuals with disability by providing key support that can empower individuals to actively engage in social, recreational, and cultural activities, fostering inclusion and enhancing their overall community participation.
- Individualised Planning
The NDIS is person centred, meaning every participant gets a tailored plan for their specific goals and needs. This allows participants to have more choice and control over the support they need.
- Funding for Support Services
The NDIS scheme provides funding for support or services for the participants. This includes various products and services such as assistive technology, personal care and allied health services. These supports and services help improve the quality of life of a participant.
The NDIS scheme has several benefits for participants, including empowering them to get needed support and services. The scheme continues to improve the quality of life of thousands of participants.
If you have any questions regarding your NDIS plan, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at 1800 63 63 77. We are available to address any inquiries you may have.
