Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Australia refers to housing specifically designed to cater to the needs of people with very high support needs or profound functional impairment. SDA is one of the support services provided by the NDIS to ensure that individuals with significant disabilities have access to suitable accommodation that meets their specific requirements.
Key points regarding Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) under the NDIS include:
Purpose: SDA is intended to address the housing needs of individuals with complex and high-level disabilities who require specialised housing solutions to live more independently.
Eligibility: To be eligible for SDA, participants must meet specific eligibility criteria outlined by the NDIS. This typically involves a comprehensive assessment of the participant’s disability-related needs and the level of support required.
Design Categories: SDA is categorized into various design categories, each addressing specific disability-related needs. These categories include Improved Liveability, Fully Accessible, Robust, and High Physical Support. Each category corresponds to certain design features and accessibility standards.
The assessment of design compliance prior to enrollment is conducted by an Accredited SDA Assessor under the direction of the SDA Design Standards. The SDA Design Standard sets out detailed design requirements that shall be incorporated into “new built” Specialist Disability Accommodation which may seek enrolment with the NDIA.
Funding: The NDIS provides funding to eligible participants for the capital costs associated with the construction or modification of SDA. This funding is separate from other NDIS supports and is aimed at covering the costs of creating or adapting suitable living spaces.
Registration Process: To be eligible for SDA funding, a property must be registered and meet the necessary standards and criteria set by the NDIS. Providers of SDA must adhere to specific design and accessibility guidelines.
Market and Choice: The introduction of SDA aims to encourage a diverse market of housing options, giving individuals with disabilities more choice and control over their living arrangements.
Ongoing Support: While SDA funding covers the capital costs associated with housing, participants also receive funding for their day-to-day support needs, which may include assistance with daily activities, personal care, and community participation.
SDA is a crucial aspect of the NDIS, recognizing the importance of providing suitable housing options for individuals with severe disabilities. It aligns with the NDIS’s overall goal of empowering people with disabilities to lead more independent and fulfilling lives by addressing their unique support requirements.
The NDIS Pricing Arrangements for Specialist Disability Accommodation (previously the Price Guide for Specialist Disability Accommodation) is a summary of price limits and other pricing arrangements that apply to SDA under the NDIS.
The SDA price calculator can help providers calculate the expected annual income of an SDA dwelling.
The notion of the Universal Design first emerged and was coined by an American Architect, Ronald Mace who was an advocate for people with disabilities. He was a lifelong sufferer of polio, and was confined to a wheelchair.
The term Universal Design is a design development process of creating a built environment or product that is universally accessible to people of all abilities, including people with disabilities.
Universal design in the built environment often has an emphasis on accommodating people with permanent or temporary physical limitations.For example, a kerb ramp on a pedestrian accessway is designed to make the raised sidewalks and streets accessible to people using wheelchairs, parents with baby prams and delivery staff with rolling carts. Similarly, an automatic sliding door within a public space, such as a shopping centre is more accessible to everyone, including small children, workers whose arms are full, and people using walking frames, crutches or wheelchairs. The automatic sliding door often compensates the need for extended latch side clearance requirements, should spatial limitation prevail.
For educational purposes, please refer to the video section of Amoeba blog for a YouTube link “Meet The Normals – Adventures in Universal Design”, created by The Centre for Excellence in Universal Design.
What an Access Consultant can do for you at the Development Application stage?
Accessibility Consulting, a.k.a Universal Design Consulting is a filed of consultancy specialising in code compliance specific to the building and construction industry. We as an Access Consultant would provide advice inline with Federal and Commonwealth legislation to ensure the provision of an inclusive built environment for people of all abilities, including people with a disability.
We can assist building owners, developers and architects to achieve Development Approval by providing assessment services in the form of an Access Report outlining the compliance status of the development. The assessment is based on the current code and relevant standards applicable at the time of the development lodgement. The assessment process will assist the planning authority in evaluating the Approval in a more positive outcome.
Depending on the State or town center that the development may be located, an Access Report is often a mandatory requirement under the Planning Code in every State and Territory.
Please get in touch with our consultants and we should be able to confirm the DA submission requirements in your specific region.
What does the new Building and Development Certifiers Regulation 2020 entail?
From 1 July 2020 in NSW, the new Building and Development Certifiers Regulation 2020 will take effect. It is aiming to introduce further changes to the building certification industry in NSW.
Under the new Act, the work traditionally available to a certifier in a project is effectively halved which could have significant commercial ramifications for the industry.
Understandably, the new Regulation will have significant impact upon private certifiers, as distinct from the certifiers who work for councils. As in any other state, the Private Certifiers can act equally as the council certifier in the certification process in NSW. It is likely that the changes will lead to a constraint on the scope of services that can be provided by the Private Certifiers in NSW.
Not to mention the continuing difficulties in obtaining professional indemnity insurance all mean that the construction industry is likely to see disruption in the supply of private certification services for a considerable period of time?
SDA is one of the support services provided by the NDIS to ensure that individuals with significant disabilities have access to suitable accommodation that meets their specific requirements.
