Which Disabilities Does The NDIS Cover?
Before the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) existed, thousands of disabled Australian residents found it difficult to access the necessary services to help their condition. Without a system that can fund individualised packages, disabled people are limited to inefficient and unfair service providers. These providers could only allow restricted options for supports and involve difficult processes for switching plans. But luckily, disabled people don’t need to go through these troubles to enhance their way of living, thanks to the NDIS.
As an insurance scheme, NDIS is responsible for providing eligible participants with supports and services that will improve the quality of their life. The NDIS disability covers conditions that affect the individual’s physical, intellectual, cognitive, sensory, neurological, social, and psychological functioning. Below are other factors you need to know about NDIS disability and how to access its benefits.
Understanding NDIS Disability
The range of services and supports can cover the participant’s home life, health care, social wellbeing, community participation, employment, and education. These privileges are aimed at pursuing the patient’s aspirations and goals regarding their independence, workplace, and social involvement. But before knowing what conditions are included under NDIS disability, it is important to understand that the NDIS only funds assistance for disabilities that are reasonable and necessary.
The basis for NDIS disability is the operational guidelines of the NDIS and the NDIS Act of 2013. Reasonable and necessary supports should be related to the patient’s disability. The NDIS plan cannot cover daily costs, such as grocery items, if it isn’t directly related to the person’s condition. The supports that will be funded should be able to represent value for money and be effective in improving the patient’s living. NDIS also takes into consideration what other services are received from networks such as the patient’s family, caretakers, community, and government agencies.
NDIS Disability Requirements
For a person to access NDIS in the first place, they must be an Australian citizens, lawful residents or Permanent Visa holder or a Protected Special Category Visa holder, aged between 7 and 65 years old, must have a permanent and significant disability, and require special equipment to aid their impairment. Once they meet these requirements, their disability should also fit these standards:
The disability/disabilities of the individual are most likely to be permanent
The disability/disabilities of the individual are attributed to a physical, sensory, intellectual, neurological, cognitive, intellectual, or psychiatric impairment
The disability/disabilities reduce the individual’s functioning and capability of communication, learning, mobility, interacting socially, self-managing, and performing self-care
However, if the disabled person does not meet the standards above, he/she may be reconsidered by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) for Early Intervention instead. The NDIS can also refuse to fund certain supports if such services are considered to be:
Unrelated to the disability of the participant
Is related to daily living expenses that do not directly support the disability of the participant
Is the responsibility of a different community service or another government system
Can potentially cause harm or pose a risk to other people
Health supports for NDIS Disability
Here is a list of the disability-related health supports that NDIS can provide. Do note that this list isn’t exhaustive and the services can be delivered in several ways.
1. Nutrition Supports
This can include the implementation of meal plans by a qualified worker of NDIS. Maintenance and care will also be provided, accompanied by dietetic consultations and periodic review of the patient’s development. Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastronomy can also be facilitated to assist feeding. Home Enteral Nutrition is also included, which may provide equipment, consumables, and nutritional supplements.
2. Respiratory Supports
Respiratory supports include the daily maintenance and periodic review of tracheostomy by an NDIS-approved clinician. Tracheostomy equipment, Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BIPAP) machine, and Constant Positive Airway Pressure Machine (CPAP) consumables will also be provided. Other equipment, such as air humidifier, ventilator and cough assist machines can also be offered.
3.Diabetic Supports
Supports are inclusive of the diabetic management plan as well as a periodic review of the patient’s development. Daily maintenance and care will also be facilitated by an NDIS competent worker. The worker who will implement the management plan will receive training that is funded by the NDIS.
4. Continence Supports
Continence consumables, such as bags, pads, straps, bottles, catheter, and catheter maintenance will be provided. An NDIS-trained worker will perform the removal, changing, cleaning, and insertion of the urethral catheter.
5. Dysphagia Supports
This can include a periodic review of the meal-time management plan, oral eating plan, and drinking care plan. These plans are all implemented and managed by NDIS- funded workers who have undergone suitable training and passed the necessary qualifications. These supports are also inclusive of swallowing therapy and consumables such as thickeners. Thickeners are used to assist the patient with swallowing so that their risk of choking is reduced.
6. Epilepsy Supports
Under these supports, the patient will receive an epilepsy seizure monitoring that will be performed by an NDIS-qualified worker who can apply assistive technology. The worker assigned to the patient will receive training that is funded by the NDIS. This training will be on the Emergency Medication Management Plan and/or the Epilepsy Management Plan.
7. Podiatry Supports
Podiatry supports are inclusive of a podiatry care plan that will be implemented and managed by an NDIS-qualified, competent clinician. This worker will undergo a training funded by the NDIS to be suited for implementing plans and performing the required care and daily maintenance of the patient. The patient will also undergo a periodic review and assessment regarding the podiatry care plan’s effectivity.
8. Wound and Pressure Care Supports
Wound and pressure care supports include pressure injury management that will be facilitated by an NDIS-funded worker. The supports are inclusive of wound and pressure care consumables such as pressure wraps, bandages, tapes, dressings, gauzes, and lymphedema garments. There will also be an assistant available for assembling and using equipment like lymphoedema machines. Again, these assistants are qualified and trained by the NDIS.
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