Once you are approved for the NDIS, you will be invited to a planning meeting with an NDIS planner.
This is where your NDIS plan is created and where your funding starts to take shape.
You will meet with an NDIS planner or a Local Area Coordinator. They will talk through your day-to-day life. The focus is not just on your diagnosis, but on how your intellectual disability impacts your everyday activities.
Smashing this plan meeting matters. The more clearly your needs are explained, the more your plan will reflect your real life.
How your NDIS funding is decided
Your NDIS funding is based on your individual situation. The NDIA looks at:
- how your intellectual disability affects your functional capacity
- what supports you need on a daily basis
- what goals you want to work towards
They also rely on reports from therapists and clinicians. These reports explain what support is required and why it is necessary.
NDIS Plan Management types for Intellectual Disability
Before you start using your plan, you will choose how your funding is managed. This decision affects how much control you have and how much administration you need to handle.
Regardless of your disability, all NDIS participants can choose from three ways to manage their plan:
Agency-managed
With agency-managed funding, the NDIA pays providers directly on your behalf. You will need to use registered providers.
For example, if you use a registered support worker provider, they will send invoices directly to the NDIA, and you will not need to manage the process.
Plan-managed
With plan-managed funding, a plan manager takes care of invoices and payments for you. This gives you more flexibility because you can use both registered and non-registered providers.
For example, if you find a therapist who is not NDIS registered, your plan manager can still process their invoices and pay them on your behalf.
Self-managed
With self-managed funding, you take full control of your plan. You choose your providers, approve invoices, and submit claims to the NDIS.
For example, a family may choose to hire an independent support worker directly and handle all payments and claims themselves.
You can also read our in-depth resource on options to manage your new NDIS plan.
NDIS support categories for Intellectual Disabilites
Your NDIS funding is grouped into three main categories.
Core supports (support for daily life)
Core supports are designed to help you with everyday activities and routines. This is often the most used category for participants with intellectual disability.
These supports can include
- assistance with personal care,
- help with daily routines,
- support with cooking and household tasks, and
- help to access the community.
For example, you might have a support worker who helps you get ready in the morning, attend activities during the week, and build consistent routines.
Understanding how to use your core funding is important to get the best out of your plan.
Capacity building supports (building independence and skills)
These supports are focused on helping you develop skills over time. These supports are about long-term outcomes and increasing independence.
For intellectual disability, this often includes
- therapies such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and psychology.
- support coordination,
- social skills programs, and
- life skills training.
For example, you might work with a speech therapist to improve communication and an occupational therapist to build skills for independent living.
Capital supports (equipment and higher-cost supports)
Capital supports cover higher-cost items and equipment that are required to support your needs.
For participants with intellectual disability, this may include assistive technology such as communication devices or sensory equipment.
For example, a participant who has difficulty expressing themselves may receive funding for a communication device to support their daily interactions.
Capital funding is specific to approved items. Learn more about how Capital supports work and the types available.
NDIS supports for intellectual disability
Your supports are tailored to how your intellectual disability affects your life.
This can include:
- support with personal care, routines, and household tasks
- building skills in communication, decision-making, and social interaction
- therapy to improve functional skills and independence
- support to participate in community activities
- support coordination to help you understand and use your plan
How Plan Hero supports you
At Plan Hero, the focus is on helping you make sense of your NDIS plan and use it in a way that works best for you.
Our specialist plan managers support you to:
- understand your funding
- manage invoices and claims
- choose the right supports
- stay on track with your budget
