The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a government-funded program that provides financial assistance to eligible children and adults with disabilities. The program helps cover the costs of necessary support and services, such as therapy, equipment, and personal care.
It gives Australians under 65 a chance to live normally, despite their permanent and significant disability. The great thing about NDIS is that it gives great flexibility and a choice of supports and services they can choose to meet their individual needs.
How Can NDIS Help Support Your Child?
The NDIS is a one-size fit insurance system where people of all ages, including children, can get funding on where they want aid. It helps children between the ages of 7 to, as mentioned above, 65 years old.
In addition, if your child has a temporary or permanent disability affecting their everyday life, they may be eligible for funding.
The NDIS helps individuals with disabilities in the following scopes:
- Get reasonable and necessary monetary support, things related to their disability and needed for children to live an ordinary life.
- Access to basic necessities, services, and support, proper health, and educational system
- They can maintain informal support. These are the support that people can get from their family and friends.
- They can access community support and services better, like in sports clubs, community groups, charities, etc.
The great thing about the National Disability Insurance Scheme is that it isn’t means-tested. It doesn’t affect income support like Carer Allowance or the Disability Support Pension. Thus, you can still apply for these without worrying about the impact.
The NDIS gives parents with children with disabilities the support they need. As we know, a disability could affect anyone, anytime, and the NDIS is here to give parents peace of mind.
Once approved for funding, they may receive funding for NDIS Support Coordination and receive extra support in addition to your NDIS plan. This system helps you better understand and manage all of the NDIS support available for your child.
In addition, you may include Support Coordination in your NDIS plan, which can help you find the best service providers that are better suited for your child’s needs.
The Difference Between NDIS vs. ECEI
As mentioned above, NDIS is for individuals between the ages of 7-65. On the other hand, ECEI’s eligibility requirements are for children from 0-6 years old. The ECEI system is designed to assist children who experience developmental delays or disabilities in their early years.
Unfortunately, ECEI is only temporary support, but the children don’t have to submit a diagnosis certificate from a physician or specialist to receive ECEI support and services. Once they reach seven years or older, they must proceed to NDIS support and submit an official diagnosis.
How Can I Apply for NDIS Funding?
Check if your child is eligible for the NDIS. You can do this by checking the eligibility access requirements on their website. After you’ve ensured that you meet the requirements, apply for the NDIS, which you can do through the following methods:
- Call 1800 800 110, and ask for an access request.
- Complete and submit an email with the subject “Access Request Form” to NAT@ndis.gov.au
- Contact your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or the NDIA office to make an Access request.
If your child was previously supported by the Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI), consult with your Early Childhood Planner about how to transition to the NDIS. Your planner can develop a plan for your child’s specific needs and assist you throughout the NDIS application process to the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
What To Bring
After contacting the NDIS personnel and making an access request, you would need to bring your child to a Planning Meeting, where you would need to prepare a couple of documents and answers during the interview process.
Read on for the following things you have to prepare.
- Bring supporting documents that you think you’ll need.
- A trusted confidant for moral support if you need it.
- Have an answer for your child’s needs and goals.
- Discuss Support Coordination.
- Prepare a set of questions to ask the interviewers if you have to clarify something.
- Prepare a notebook to take notes during the meeting.
- Discuss in detail how you would like your children’s plan to be managed. Ask them afterward how they plan on succeeding in this expectation.
Final Thoughts
The National Disability Insurance Scheme is a valuable help for parents with a lot to manage, especially for children with disabilities. It can help cover the costs of necessary support and services, which can make a big difference in a child’s life.
If you are a parent with a disability, we encourage you to learn more about the NDIS and how it can help your family.