The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) defines Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) as follows: "SDA refers to accommodation for people who require specialist housing solutions, including: to assist with the delivery of supports that cater for their extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. SDA funding is for the dwelling itself, and is not intended to cover support costs (such as Supported Independent Living), which are assessed and funded separately by the NDIS." SDA is offered to participants with extreme functional impairment or those who require high support needs. It includes specialist in-house designs and / or features which promote independent living through complex supports.
A Word on Specialist Disability Accommodation Rules
While the agency stipulates the rules and regulations that are to be observed by providers offering SDA supports and services; there are some other regulations which include: codes and standard that differ based on the State or Territory in which the provider serves. The rules provide:
- The benchmark for operations when a participant includes SDA in their NDIS plan
- The options of dwellings to be used for SDA
- Information on payments to be remitted to registered providers of SDA
SDA Provider Registration
The procedure for registration as a provider is pretty much consistent across all types of supports which include Special Disability Accommodation. We discussed this process in the blog titled "I Wish to Become a Provider, How Do I Get Started?" Just like all other supports classes, providers in this support category are required by the NDIA to render services and supports in consistency with: Quality and Safeguards Working Arrangements, Terms of Business as well as Guide to Suitability which differs based on jurisdiction.
SDA Dwelling Enrolment
The NDIA requires that all providers offering SDA dwellings enrol with the agency. This is a process that involves providers filling out the SDA Dwelling Enrolment Form and submitting it to the agency. The form also includes a declaration which is only valid upon completion and submission by an authorised representative of the registered provider. Providers who successfully enrol their SDA dwellings will then be required, annually, to make an attestation in line with the SDA Rules. The purpose of all this is to ensure that service standards are observed and participants are receiving quality supports.
A Word on SDA Pricing
Just like other aspects of the NDIS, SDA pricing approach avails funding to participants on the condition that they meet the stipulated criteria. Once funding is availed to a participant, they are free to choose the support they wish to have from the marketplace. These prices do vary from territory to territory and the type of SDA supports; so, it is advisable to go through the SDA Price Guide Summary to get a clearer picture of the prices of the different SDA support categories.
