Practical NDIS workshop - Friends of Brain Injured Children

PRACTICAL NDIS PLANNING WORKSHOP PRESENTED BY FRIENDS OF THE BRAIN INJURED CHILDREN INC. GABI MONUS AND SIRLA JAFRI

NDIS PROCESS •

The NDIS should have already contacted you. If they have not then you need to call them on 1800 800 110. The access checker is a key tool the NDIA use to determine your child's eligibility to the scheme. You must complete the access checker for your child and save the code you are given once you have completed this. The code is used by the NDIA in confirming your child's eligibility to the scheme

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Primary school aged children will transition to the NDIS in 2015

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In the meantime there should be no change to current funded supports via Therapy ACT. Note, equipment purchases/maintenance.

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NDIA will contact you with an ‘Access request form’ which also includes other documentation you are required to complete including an ‘Evidence of disability form’

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Once you have completed and submitted this documentation, the NDIA will organise a planning meeting and will ask you to complete the Participant Statement for the planning meeting.

RELEVANT DOCUMENTATION •

NDIS workbook

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NDIS fact sheets

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Evidence of disability and access request form

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Participant statement

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Price list for support items/service providers

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ndis.gov.au

IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE •

NDIS funding impacts on HAAC funding

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Prepare a budget BEFORE you attend the planning meeting

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There is specific early intervention support for early childhood, i.e. high needs can be funded for early intervention from $12000 up to $16000 where early intervention is seen as reasonable and necessary and is expected to deliver significant results within a six month period (31)

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Up to 10 sessions per annum are funded to cover specialised services such as physio, OT, speech and psychology (40 onwards)

PARTICIPANT STATEMENT AND

PREPARING GOALS Goals include: •

Education

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Social participation

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Independence

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Living arrangements and

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Health and well being

EXAMPLES OF GOALS Education •

To learn about my environment and community

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To be exposed to new learning opportunities

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To be stimulated through sight and sound

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To attend community events to learn about my community

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To engage in computer assisted activities to enhance my educational capabilities

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To receive input from an occupational therapist to ensure I am able to access appropriate equipment to support my learning and educational needs

EXAMPLES OF GOALS

Education •

Increase my word knowledge, basic numeracy and literacy skills via Ipad and other computer assisted programs, word and picture cards

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Story reading, assisted spelling activities, television programs, games and other activities

EXAMPLES OF GOALS

Social participation •

An opportunity to have appropriate community and social access at least once or twice a week. This may include accessing art/musical or other activities, going shopping or seeing a movie

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It may also include participating in assisted social activities such as sport

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Note that siblings could provide clues around relevant social activities

EXAMPLES OF GOALS Independence •

To be given every opportunity to enhance abilities to be independent in every way. This might include feeding and toileting or communicating my needs and mobility

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To let people know what I want

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To be understood by unfamiliar people

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To be able to make choices about my day to day life

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To be supported to explore the best options to communicate my needs and be understood by others

EXAMPLES OF GOALS Independence goals continued •

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To be assisted by a speech therapist to explore : 

options to assist me to communicate my needs and to assist me to make some basic daily choices about my life

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any technology/supports that will provide me with more autonomy regarding my speech

To be supported to practice any strategies recommended by the speech therapist both at home and the community

EXAMPLES OF GOALS

Living arrangement related goals •

To live at home and have a fulfilling and meaningful existence where every day is an opportunity to learn, grow and extend myself.

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Flexibility needs to be built into the living arrangements so that on days when tired or unwell can rest.

EXAMPLES OF GOALS

Health and well being •

To maximise and maintain physical well being i.e. optimal health with minimal physical ailments

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Maintain intensive therapies

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Note NDIS do not fund therapy directly but if you self manage the funds they can be directed to cover therapies indirectly via ‘assistance to access community, social and recreational activities (23008) (34)

OTHER THINGS YOU CAN ASK FOR •

Assistance with transport including taxis, buses and cars

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Transport costs incurred to and from therapy appointments (currently 78 cents per km)

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Weekend care

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Holiday care

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Training/buddy up sessions for carers

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Continence aids

OTHER THINGS YOU CAN ASK FOR ASSISTANCE WITH FUNDING

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House cleaning and other household activities

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House and/or yard maintenance

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Some funding to have someone coordinate services for your child or manage your NDIS paperwork or explore options for your child to assist them meet their goals

SELF MANAGING AND PREPARING A BUDGET

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If you self manage your child’s NDIS funds you have more flexibility around how you acquit the funds

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Given what you can ask for you need to have clearly articulated goals and worked out a budget based on the NDIS prices listed for support services BEFORE you attend the first planning meeting.