Can The NDIS Help With Down Syndrome?

Down Syndrome is the most common chromosomal condition. The lack of awareness around it makes it difficult for people to understand how to deal with people with Down syndrome. We thought we would share our knowledge about how NDIS can help people with down syndrome.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a program that is designed to provide disability services to people with significant and permanent impairment; the participants need to be over the age of seven to be eligible for this program. But people with down syndrome over the age of seven are not automatically eligible for this program. You can call on 1800 800 110, or you can fill out the access request form online. If you are facing any difficulty in making a call or filling out the form, you can also contact your local area coordinator or NDIA office to help you with the process.

Eligibility

You will need to provide evidence to be eligible for this program, including your age, residence, and information regarding the disability. Proving that the person has down syndrome is not enough; you also need to provide evidence to prove that their everyday functions are affected by it. People with down syndrome are not automatically eligible for this program. However, almost all of them get accepted for this program after proving their eligibility. The process is similar to any participant, the access to NDIS services is determined by how the disability affects the participant’s daily life.

What Support Does NDIS Offer To People With Down Syndrome?

NDIS provides disability services in the form of a wide range of support to its participants, which is no different for down syndrome. The support helps you build a routine day-to-day life and allows you to become more independent. NDIS provides funds for the support that is considered reasonable and necessary under its guidelines. Some of the supports that NDIS promises its participants with down syndrome are:

1. Education
2. Speech therapies
3. Accommodation
4. Early childhood intervention
5. Occupational therapies
6. Assistance with daily life

Budgets Under NDIS

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funds to sponsor the support that is reasonable and necessary for the participants. The funds are divided into three categories of budgets.

Core Support

This budget allows you to get support for your everyday activities like assistance with daily life, transport, and participation in social activities. The fund in this budget is flexible compared to others, while other budgets don’t allow you to spend on anything else; Core Support can be used for other support categories; you can save this budget and use it on something more substantial.

Capacity Building Support

This support helps you in learning skills to help you become more independent and brings you closer to your goal. This covers the cost of improved living, and you can also use this fund to find and keep a job. This budget is supposed to be strictly used for its purpose only.

Capital Support

This support category includes a higher cost of assistive technology that will help you lead an independent life. It allows you to bring modifications to your home and vehicles so you can move freely without depending on others. It also covers the cost of specialist disability accommodation, and like Capacity Building Support, this budget is also supposed to be used for its purpose only.

How Can I Manage These Funds?

There are a few methods of managing your NDIS funds;

1. Self-management: You can manage your funds provided by NDIA and pay your providers yourself.
2. Plan-management: You can hire a plan manager to look after your funds and pay the providers.
3. NDIA-managed: The NDIA can also pay your providers on your behalf.

If you want to know more about how NDIS can help people with Down Syndrome, reach out to Personalised Support Services, which provides disability services in Australia. Their team of professional service providers will guide you to the best of their ability.

Call or fill in the form and they’ll call you back.