There has been a lot of debate covering NDIS plans and people with autism. Questions have been going around on where there is any likelihood that the guidelines governing the eligibility of NDIS will change towards people with autism. The answer is yes! Since 2018, various adjustments to the plan have been made to ensure every Australian with disability benefits from the scheme, including those with autism.
What Happened with NIDS Guidelines?
In May 2018, NDIS changed its guidelines on funding eligibility and this caused a lot of anxiety and uncertainties among people living with autism. The change was about the adjustment of the eligibility of people with level 2 severity that resulted in most of them being considered ad individuals with level 1 severity. Later on, NDIS restored the previous guidelines after a lot of anxiety and complaints from people who felt consultation and communication were not made regarding this change.
The people on the level 2 list are individuals with disabilities and other conditions who are more likely to qualify for NDIS while those in level 1 will require giving more evidence to show they qualify for the funding. The level 2 individuals have evident and severe impairments and are given direct access to the funds without providing any further information.
Are People with Autism Eligible for NDIS?
The good news is, the government has changed plans and NDIS is now funding even autistic persons. In fact, autism disorder has been named as the main and primary disability in the categories. However, the people must meet specific conditions for them to benefit from the funds. Any person with level 2 or level 3 in terms of severity is eligible for the funds. It is now possible for them to get disability care Bellarine from an NDIS registered provider. Any person with level 1 severity of the following conditions may require more assessment to determine if they qualify for the funding. These conditions are:
- Childhood autism
- Atypical autism
- Asperger syndrome, and others.
NDIS provides specific services to those who qualify. Some of these services include:
- Occupational treatment for increased motor skills and concentration
- Speech therapy
- Care support like showering, dressing, eating, showering, and more. The person can get the care they need at the comfort of their home.
- Nutritional support
- Behavioral support like behavior management and socialization
However, the number and magnitude of services that every individual is getting will depend on the severity of the autism. People over 7 years are accessing the NDIS funds through the Pathway while those below 7 years are accessing it through ECEI.
Any person who wants to be eligible for NDIS funding must be able to meet the NDIS requirements. So, it starts with goal alignment. The purpose of NDIS funding is to help all people, including those with autism to become independent and improve their social engagement. It aims at helping people improve the economic and social activities to become better at how they engage with the rest of the community. So, when developing goals, it is important to ensure they meet the NDIS objectives.
NDIS explains that the people in the level 1 category are not denied the funds. They only need to provide more information and evidence of the impairment. They must also show how the impairment has impacted the quality of their life.
Conclusion
Since this change and its reinstatement, the autism community has worked together to push forward the uses with NDIS. The community believes that every Australian life matters and has pushed forward this belief for changes to be made. The community has the principle that the life of the autistic, combines with services and NDIS funding has the capacity to make a big impact towards changing the lives of people with autism.
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