NDIS For Level 3 Autism
People living with the effects of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) make up one of the biggest groups receiving support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). In Australia, about 164000 people are living with ASD. That is about 1 out of every 150 Australians being affected by the disorder.
There are three different levels of ASD that people can be diagnosed with. This is determined by mental health and medical professionals based on the severity of two areas of functioning of an individual with autism: social functioning and repetitive, restrictive behaviours. These levels are then used by the NDIS as a reference on who can automatically receive support.
These three levels of autism help caretakers identify the amount of support a person with autism requires to live day-to-day life as normally as possible. With Level 1 being requiring support, Level 2 requiring substantial support, and Level 3 requiring very substantial support. This article focuses on Level 3 Autism and how the NDIS can help those diagnosed with Level 3 ASD.
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder of Autism is a lifelong developmental disorder that is present in individuals starting from birth. Symptoms of the disorder can start to appear in children as young as age two while some may experience symptoms as they get older. Some individuals experience milder forms of ASD and may only get diagnosed later in life as an adult.
In older editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), there are several separate conditions, namely Asperger’s Disorder, Rett’s Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder that are now covered under the umbrella term of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the fifth edition of the DSM.
Many of the conditions mentioned above have overlapping symptoms with each other. This made authors of the DSM-V to these conditions under the Autism Spectrum Disorder umbrella and identify those with autism in a spectrum.
Some of the telling symptoms of ASD but are not limited to are:
Sensory sensitivity
Difficulty with change of routines or environments
Repetitive and restrictive behaviours
Deficits in social and communication skills
Having an intense interest in one specific topic
The symptoms listed above are not evident in every person with Autism. The severity of each symptom can greatly vary from one individual diagnosed with ASD to another. As Autism is felt in a spectrum, no two people with ASD have affected the same way by the disorder. This makes every individual diagnosed with ASD require individualised support to help them function in everyday life.
There is no cure for Autism. Individuals affected with the disorder may only manage the symptoms and get needed support and help that can alleviate challenges that come with the disorder.
Level 3 Autism
A person diagnosed with Level 3 Autism is classified to belong in the higher end of the spectrum in terms of severity of symptoms. This indicates that a person with Level 3 autism requires very substantial support.
People diagnosed with Level 3 Autism may have severe deficits in social and communication skills, thus making it extremely difficult for them to understand verbal and non-verbal communication. They may also find it extremely difficult to form interests in socialising, making friends, or understanding social cues.
People diagnosed with Level 3 Autism may also find it extremely difficult with changes in routines and their environment as well as disruption of their focus or tasks. This may cause distress in the individual which may result in outbursts.
Because people with Level 3 Autism require very substantial support in their everyday lives to adequately function, they are automatically qualified to receive support from the NDIS for their Autism should they wish to become an NDIS participant.
Services the NDIS can Fund for Level 3 Autism
The NDIS can readily provide funding for necessary and reasonable support to people with Level 3 Autism. The NDIS allows its participants the opportunity to be involved in the creation of their NDIS Plan. An NDIS Plan lays out all the NDIS participant’s individual goals, challenges, and needed support.
People with Level 3 Autism can enlist the services of registered NDIS Providers, like Positive Moods, to provide the reasonable and necessary support that they use in their everyday life. Some of the most recommended support or services for people with Level 3 Autism are but are not limited to:
Speech Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Applied Behaviour Analysis
Sensory Training
Personal Care Support
Other Levels of Autism
Individuals diagnosed with Level 1 and Level 2 autism do not require as much support as individuals diagnosed with Level 3 autism. However, they do face some challenges. Briefly, here are the other two levels of autism.
Level 1
People with Level 1 autism require the least support to function in everyday life out of all three levels of autism with some individuals experiencing little interference from their disorder in their everyday life. However, there are people with level 1 autism that do require some form of support.
Level 1 autism indicates that a person may be inflexible, have difficulty with planning and organising, They may display some repetitive and rigid patterns of behaviour and may be uncomfortable with changing routines and environments. They may also experience some difficulty with socialising and communicating with others.
Unlike with Level 3 autism, people with Level 1 autism are required to undergo further assessments and provide documentation to be eligible for the NDIS. People with Level 1 autism need to prove that their disorder is negatively and significantly affecting their quality of life.
Level 2
People diagnosed with Level 2 Autism sit in the middle of the Autism spectrum. They require significant support for their autism to live daily life as normally as possible.
People with Level 2 Autism may find communicating with others very difficult even with provided support. They also have difficulty comprehending nonverbal communications like facial expressions.
People with Level 2 autism also find it very difficult with changes in their routines and environment and may experience significant distress when changes occur. They also regularly display repetitive and rigid behaviour patterns.
Similar to Level 3 autism, people with Level 2 autism are automatically qualified to receive much-needed support from the NDIS.
Read more about What Disability Does NDIS Cover?