Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) plays a vital role in meeting the housing needs of individuals with extreme functional impairments or high support requirements. It’s different to Supported Independent Living (SIL), which focuses on providing personal support services. SDA is about creating physical living spaces tailored to these needs. The primary goal of SDA is to offer homes that help participants live as independently as possible.
Many people with complex needs are living in unsuitable environments, like nursing or group homes. This is despite their young age and wishes for control over their own lives. Finding appropriate housing that works with someone’s disability, rather than against it can be difficult. Only around 6% of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants receive SDA funding. Around 28,000 people receive Specialist Disability Accommodation. The process of gathering evidence and receiving assessment for SDA funding can take over a year, creating an additional challenge.
Growing Demand for SDA
While SDA is available to only a small percentage of NDIS participants, the demand is growing. As more homes are built to SDA standards, there is a greater push for innovative solutions that cater to individual needs. This push is coming both from participants on the NDIS & many service providers. Adaptations can be through smart home technology, environmentally sustainable designs and more.
Innovation & Community Integration
SDA developments are shifting away from the institutionalized models of the past, where people with disabilities were isolated in large facilities. SDA homes are designed to promote community integration and social inclusion. Many of these properties are part of mainstream housing developments or established suburbs, offering access to local amenities and public services.
Choice & Control
One of the core principles of the NDIS is giving participants greater choice and control over where they live and who they live with. SDA provides options for participants to choose a living arrangement that best suits their needs, whether it’s living independently, with family, or sharing a home with other participants. Specialist Disability Accommodation also means that a person’s home isn’t tied to their care, such as in SIL. This means participants are free to choose & change the supports that come into their home.
Investment In Specialist Disability Accommodation
SDA also attracts private investment, with developers and mum & dad investors recognizing the long-term sustainability and social impact of these projects. This investment is crucial in increasing the supply of accessible homes, ensuring that more people with disabilities can access appropriate housing solutions. By providing high-quality, adaptable housing, SDA helps people with disabilities achieve greater autonomy and engagement in their communities. This also relieves pressure on the health and social care systems. Reducing the reliance on institutional care, such as nursing homes, group homes and hospitals.
Future Proofing & Categories
Specialist Disability Accommodation homes are designed with the future in mind, ensuring they can adapt to participants’ changing needs, so they don’t have to move again. For instance, High Physical Support homes may include structural provisions for future modifications, like ceiling hoists, if needed. SDA-certified homes are built to meet the standards set by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and are assessed based on categories such as:
- Improved Liveability: Designed to accommodate sensory, cognitive, or intellectual impairments, these homes feature adjustable lighting, soundproofing, and intuitive layouts.
- Fully Accessible: These homes include accessible features such as ramps, wide doorways, and open-plan layouts, designed for people with significant physical disabilities.
- Robust: Robust homes are built for participants who may need durable environments. They often include impact-resistant materials, safe spaces, and additional features to prevent harm to both the residents and their support staff.
- High Physical Support: These homes have more extensive modifications like structural reinforcements for hoists and emergency power backup systems to accommodate participants with complex physical needs.
A home can meet multiple design standards to cater to a range of needs.
Appendix H – Living with Family in a SDA Home
Do Participants pay for SDA?
Once participants receive SDA funding, they no longer have to worry about mainstream renting. The NDIS allows for a reasonable rent contribution, capped at 25% of the base rate of the Disability Support Pension, plus other Centrelink benefits. This financial model, combined with the specialized design of SDA homes, aims to improve the quality of life for those with complex needs by providing a stable and supportive living environment NDIS participants can afford.
If a participant’s NDIS plan does not currently include SDA funding and they match the requirements, they can apply for a change of circumstances. This option is important because the needs of participants can evolve over time, whether due to the progression of their disability or changes in the ability of caregivers, such as aging parents, to provide care. By providing high-quality, adaptable housing, SDA helps people with disabilities achieve greater autonomy and engagement in their communities. This approach also relieves pressure on the health and social care systems by reducing the reliance on institutional care, such as nursing homes, for younger participants with complex needs.