NDIS and Autism: Help with the NDIS

What is the National Disability Insurance Scheme?

The NDIS funds reasonable and necessary supports to assist individuals with a disability to:

• Pursue their goals, objectives and aspirations,
• Increase their independence
• Increase social and economic participation
• Develop their capacity to actively take part in the community

It is implemented by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

How do I know if I am eligible?

To be eligible for a plan, an individual needs to meet the following requirements:

• Have a permanent disability that significantly affects their ability to take part in everyday activities
• Be aged less than 65 when they first access the scheme
• Be an Australian citizen, live in Australia and hold a permanent visa or hold a Protected Special Category visa

You will need to complete an Access Request Form:

• For children aged 0-7years, you will need to contact an ECEI Partner:
• For anyone over the age of 7 years, you will need to contact a Local Area Coordinators (LAC)

How do I get ready for my NDIS planning meeting?

Once you have confirmation from NDIS that you are eligible you will have a planning meeting. You may have to wait until a meeting time is available so you will have time to prepare what you need for the meeting beforehand.

You will need to think about:

• Who will support you at the meeting? (i.e. a professional advocate, a family member)
• What reports will you take to the meeting as supporting documents? (i.e. therapy reports, diagnosis letters)
• How do you want to manage the funding? Do you want:
  - to manage the funds yourself? (this is known as self-managed)
  - a service provider to manage the funds?
  - the NDIS to manage the funds?
  - a combination of the above?

What will happen at the planning meeting?

During this meeting the planner will ask you about how you are going in your life, what you want to achieve and what help and support you need.

To help you answer these questions think about:

• How you manage daily activities and social participation:
  - What is your weekly schedule? (i.e. extra-curricular or social activities, therapist appointments)
  - What is the weekly schedule of the people who support you (family or friends)?
  - What part/s of the week are the most challenging for you? (i.e. getting to school or work on time, homework, managing other family member’s commitments)
• Activities that you are currently doing in the community or you would like to be doing.
• Support needs:
  - What support do you need to do everyday activities? To access the community? To access family life? To access education/employment?
  - Do you need any special equipment? (i.e. speech aid, sensory equipment)
  - Do you have any travel needs? (i.e. travel training, taxis to access services)
  - What therapy/therapeutic supports do you need? (including behaviour support, speech therapy, OT)
  - What informal (unpaid) support do you get from others?
  - Are there any other supports you do not currently receive that would be beneficial?
• Your goals. These can be longer-term goals but it is good also to think about goals for the shorter term. Think about what you would like to achieve in the next year and therefore what support might be needed
  

What will my NDIS plan look like?

After the meeting you will be given a written plan

What happens next?

You will have choice and control in purchasing supports and services that match your needs. Each year, you will be contacted to review the plan and funded supports in place.

If you currently receive the Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) Package, your funding will no longer be accessible once you have an activated NDIS Plan.

NDIS Support Coordination

Our Aspect Support Coordination team can provide support Coordination to NDIS funded participants who need to understand different budgets, how to start using their plan, and how the plan is managed.

We also provide an NDIS recipient with,

• Either Level 2 or Level 3 Support Coordination as per your NDIS funding,
• Assist you in understanding how to read your NDIS plan,
• Help you to understand your NDIS Budget and implement funding,
• Provide linkages to service providers,
• Provide a comprehensive progress report, support NDIS plan reviews and Change of circumstances,
• Support you in understanding service agreements.