What is SDA?
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is one of the supports that may be funded under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). SDA refers to accommodation for people who require specialist housing solutions, including to assist with the delivery of supports that cater to their functional impairment or support needs. SDA does not refer to the support services. SDA may have specialist designs for people with high needs or a location or features that make it feasible to provide complex or costly supports for independent living. At the centre of the NDIS is the need to maximise the choice and control for the participant. Accordingly, SDA should enhance self-determination and create the conditions required for participants to lead vibrant, safe and independent lives.
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Further information available here: Official NDIS SDA Home Page
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What is an 'Accredited SDA Assessor?'
Accredited SDA Assessors conduct assessments of Design and/or Final-as-built dwellings against the SDA Design Standard to confirm compliance.
An Accredited SDA Assessor is the only professional who can issue a Certificate of SDA Category Compliance, to confirm that the Design and/or Final-as-built dwelling has met all the requirements of the SDA Design Standard.
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From 1st July 2021, all dwelling enrolment applications for SDA will be required to include a certificate from an Accredited SDA Assessor nominating the Design Category the dwelling to be enrolled satisfies, based on the design requirements detailed in the SDA Design Standard.
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Find out more about our Accredited SDA Assessor services here.
What is the SDA Design Standard?
The SDA Design Standard Edition 1.1 sets out the detailed design requirements that shall be incorporated into New Build SDA seeking enrolment with the NDIA.
The SDA Design Standard is based on the four SDA Design Categories which are set out in the SDA Rules 2021:
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Improved Liveability;
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Robust;
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Fully Accessible;
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High Physical Support.
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What is NDIS?
The NDIS funds a range of supports and services to people who have permanent and significant disability.
Funding is provided directly to individuals on a reasonable and necessary basis. In order to be considered reasonable and necessary, a support or service:
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Must be related to a participant’s disability
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Must not include day-to-day living costs not related to the disability support needs, such as groceries
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Shall represent value for money
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Must be likely to be effective and work for the participant, and
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Shall take into account support given to the participant by formal support services and a participant’s family, carers, informal network and the community.
Further information is available at https://www.ndis.gov.au/