What is SDA and are you eligible?  

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) refers to a variety of housing options tailored for individuals with significant functional impairments or high support needs. These SDA homes are equipped with accessible features that promote greater independence for its residents. They also make the delivery of other supports safer and more effective. All properties are designed to meet the high standards set by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).  

SDA housing is an important part of the NDIS, ensuring participants can have access to housing that meets their specific needs. It represents a shift towards more inclusive and tailored housing solutions, aiming to improve the quality of life for people with disability.    

Whether you are eligible for SDA funding is determined by the NDIS. In broad terms, participants eligible for SDA homes have an NDIS plan and fall into either of the below 2 categories.  

• Individuals who have an extreme functional impairment or very high support needs.  

• Individuals who meet the specialist disability accommodation needs requirement and the NDIS funding criteria  

What is the NDIS SDA eligibility criteria? The NDIS will evaluate any SDA application based on these general principles. It will consider whether including SDA in an NDIS plan:  

• Helps a participant achieve their goals and dreams.  

• Promotes the participant’s involvement in social and economic activities.  

• Offers good value for money, considering the benefits and the costs of other supports.  

• Follows best practices and is likely to benefit the participant.  

• Takes into account what is reasonable for parents, carers, informal networks, and the community to provide.  

• Is best funded through the NDIS or other funding and support options.  

 It is important to note that before determining NDIS SDA eligibility, the NDIA will first explore all other potential housing solutions and supports for the participant. Find more information on eligibility HERE.  

What are SDA homes and what makes them unique?  

SDA housing providers thoughtfully design the properties to facilitate active engagement in daily life within an intuitive home environment. These homes typically feature wide doorways, ramp for wheelchair access, accessible flooring, disabled access handrails and various assistive technologies, such as sensor-LED lights and automated doors and windows. Each home is tailored to meet the specific needs and lifestyles of its residents.  

Participants can invite various chosen support providers into their homes to accommodate their evolving support needs and lifestyles. Interchange can support you with the following services in your SDA home.  

Supported Independent Living (SIL)  

• 24/7 support  

• Shared supports  

• Roster of care  

Individual and Shared Core Supports  

• Support employed against a specific home and living goal, capacity building goal or daily living goal  

• Supports flexibly provided across the day, stepping in when required and away if not required 

Individualised Living Options (ILO)  

• Supports tailored to an individual  

• Host arrangements or house mate arrangements  

• Can involve formal and informal supports  

What are the different types of SDA?  

There are four different building types differentiating SDA properties.  

House: Typically, a place for 2-3 participants with shared living spaces.  

Apartments: The apartment may have several rooms, some or all are intended for participants. Non-SDA rooms can also be occupied by friends or family.  

Villas: Multiple shared or individual dwellings on one block of land.  

Group Homes: Homes to four or more participants that share common living areas.  

What are the different SDA design categories?  

In the SDA housing field, there are four different accommodation categories to differentiate.  

Improved Livability: Ensuring a reasonable level of physical access and enhanced support for participants with sensory, intellectual, or cognitive impairments to promote greater independence in daily life  

Fully Accessible: Provides extensive physical access for participants with significant physical impairments, fostering opportunities for independent engagement in daily activities.  

High Physical Support: Offers extensive physical access for participants with significant physical impairments who require high levels of support. The home features assistive technology and a spacious design, creating an environment that intuitively meets movement and support needs.  

Robust: Extensive physical access and durable building materials work together to minimize the need for reactive maintenance and reduce daily risks for participants, their households, and the community.  \

To explore your SDA housing options, you may request guidance from your support provider. Interchange is happy to explore your options with you. Send an email to enquiry@interchangewa.org.au. We can also assist you with discussing individual support levels according to your wants and needs, within a home and in the community.