Does NDIS Funding Cover Level 1 Autism?
“Autism doesn’t come with an instruction guide. It comes with a family who will never give up.” - Kerry Magro
Kerry Magro, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 4 and an award-winning national speaker, said this in one of his speeches. Isn't it inspiring? A person who is diagnosed with Autism cited this quote for us to look forward on how we, as a caretaker, a family or a relative, can support them without being weary but by being trustworthy in all situations of their lives.
The information above is an example of how we must optimistically deal with a person who is diagnosed with Autism. Also, a family never stopped helping their child to do more and achieve more even if they had Autism. Aside from families, other forms of assistance and support providers can help a person with autism for Australian citizens and residents.
According to Autism Awareness Centre Inc. or AACI, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Autism is a lifelong developmental disability typically present in a specific individual starting from the age of two or may develop as they grow old. A person with Autism affects their communication skills like verbal and non-verbal, social interaction with their families or friends, emotional skills as well as dealing with the change of their environment. Other individuals who had ASD may demonstrate milder symptoms and may be diagnosed as they grow older. In addition, from the reports of AACI, there is currently 1 in 100 Australians who have ASD but throughout the world, Autism does not exempt all gender, ethnic groups, races, and economic backgrounds. The good news is, there are many forms of assistance from the Australian government like the National Disability Insurance Scheme or NDIS and other providers like Positive Moods that will help Australian citizens financially and with other health matters.
Furthermore, having ASD has different levels according to the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The three categories listed below:
Level 1 Autism – These are people who ‘require support’. Also, they are often undiagnosed since they have qualities that are not very severe and obvious unlike Level 2 and Level 3. However, if their mental health turns out to be more evident until late childhood or early adulthood. The NDIS requires further assessment and observations for people who have this level to be a qualified NDIS participant.
Level 2 Autism – These are people with ASD who ‘require substantial support’. Based on specialists’ perspectives, family members of the child with this level start to have plans and referrals, pediatricians, speech pathologists since individuals who have this level find it hard to communicate both verbally and non-verbally. Also, they are automatically qualified as NDIS participants.
Level 3 Autism – These are people with ASD who ‘require very substantial support’. As they have trouble in communicating and their behaviours affecting their tasks in their daily life. Through this, they are also automatically qualified as NDIS participants like ASD Level 2.
With the different levels of Autism laid out, the National Disability Insurance Scheme or NDIS covers different disabilities among Australian patients and one of this is a person with ASD. Through their services and assistance, they help their patients in improving and achieving their dreams like the support care system and intervention. But before they can be qualified, below are the requirements for a person with ASD to receive services and support from NDIS:
The participant should not be under 7 years old or over 65 years old.
The participant should be an Australian Citizen with their Permanent Visa or Protected Social Category Visa
They should have early intervention requirements or disability requirements
This time, it is vital to know how their level matches with the National Disability Insurance Agency or NDIA qualification list (A to E). Through this, they will able to distinguish if they are qualified to be an NDIS participants to receive support and services further assessments, or else they must need to give more evidence on how an individual with ASD function, behave and communicate in their day to day basis through their social interactions with their family, relatives or friends, learning new things, self-care and self-management. For further details and guidelines see Section 8.3 of the NDIS Operation Guidelines. Below are the list and its definition:
List A includes conditions that qualify the NDIS requirements (per section 24 of the NDIS Act) that do not need further assessment. Basically, Level 2 and Level of the DSM-5 have this kind of disability.
List B includes permanent disabilities that need further assessment of patients' functions and abilities. This includes the following disabilities: Childhood Autism, Atypical Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and Pervasive developmental disorders not meeting severity criteria in List A or C.
List C has a list of programs based on the state, that an individual with ASD can participate in. If they participate in any of the listed programs, they can fulfil NDIS requirements even without further assessments.
List D includes Permanent Impairment or Early Intervention under the age of 7. This also does not need further assessment.
List E has also a list of programs but available to New South Wales residents such as Better Start for Children with Disability and Helping Children with Autism.
Based on the information above, an individual with Level 1 ASD needs additional evidence and observance according to their capabilities and functions on a day-to-day basis. Also, Autism Awareness Australia recommends family members or relatives that they need to have a medical and psychological practitioner to evaluate how Autism affects the daily life of their child concerning their communications skills, social interaction skills, behavioural as well as emotional. Through this, it will easily help the family members on how they will support their child. The patient will likewise be able to be qualified as a participant of NDIS based on the assessments made by the practitioners.
All in all, if an individual with Level 1 ASD has met all the requirements and become qualified as an NDIS participant, their family together with the participant can create a plan that is appropriate to their needs. Below are some of the services that NDIS offers:
Speech and Occupational Therapy
Technologies and equipment related to aid the patient’s condition
Personal care (dressing, eating, showering, and other daily routines)
Engagements in community events
School aid and tutoring services
Moreover, Early Childhood Early Intervention or ECEI a program from NDIS also helps children under the age of 7 who have ASD. They also provide different assistance and services according to their needs. Another one is Positive Moods, an Australian NDIS provider that provides therapeutic and behavioural services to a person who is diagnosed with ASD.
Find out more or make an appointment with us:
Read more about What are NDIS Service Providers?