The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has announced a pilot to help participants access and use appropriate supports through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The pilot will be voluntary, free of charge, and available to people who have already applied to the NDIS but have not yet been assessed for eligibility, who have applied for the NDIS and have had an ‘access met’ decision but do not yet have a plan and those with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability or psychosocial disability.
“Participants and their families have told us they want the NDIS to be more consistent and equitable,” NDIA CEO, Robert De Luca said.
Analysis by the NDIA shows access and planning decisions have been variable for participants with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and psychosocial disability. The pilot will focus on understanding the functional impact of these disabilities to make sure participants are able to access the right supports. Health professionals from The Benevolent Society will assist in determining what a person’s disability has on their capacity to engage in the community, work place and social activities. Participants can provide feedback about the experience to help shape future improvements to the NDIS access and planning process.
Participants will complete the steps required to take when applying for access to, or creating a plan with the NDIS and participant’s parent/legal guardian or representative will undergo an additional voluntary assessment. The independent assessor will undertake an assessment of the functional ability of the participant using one or a combination of PEDI-CAT, Vineland-3 and LSP-16 assessment tools. The outcomes of each assessment will be shared with the NDIA to inform access and planning decisions.
The pilot will run from November 2018 to February 2019 in selected areas of New South Wales for people aged seven years and older. People living near NDIA offices in Gosford, Parramatta, Chatswood, Blacktown, Hurstville, Campbelltown, Liverpool and Penrith may be invited to take part in the pilot.
For more information or to take part in the pilot email: assessments@ndis.gov.au