National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) requirements are a baseline, setting minimum standards when building Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). To ensure a thoughtful and purposeful contextual response for individuals or groups with specific needs, much more detailed planning and consultation is required. When done well, SDA accommodation should provide the participant with a sense of independence and agency in a supported environment and enable social connection within the development and within the neighbourhood and suburb more broadly.
Arkhart assisted this accommodation provider with insight from our previous work with disability groups to ensure that from the outset that future users’ needs were at the forefront in the planning process. Supported by a consultation program and facilitated planning workshops, the focus remained on the residents throughout the planning and was balanced with consideration of the financial viability of the development for the SDA provider, and flexibility in service delivery models and programs for the SIL provider.
The benefits of this approach are evident in the newly constructed accommodation in that it provides a quality asset for the SDA provider, opportunities for innovative service delivery for the Supported Independent Living provider, and most importantly, affordable housing for the resident that provides a sense of agency and delight within a supported and socially connected environment.