In 2019 the NDIA acknowledged that there are fewer than half the number of people with a psychosocial disability in the NDIS than were projected.  A major problem for people with psychosocial disability is that the kinds of supporting evidence provided by treating professionals often does not match the NDIS criteria for accessing the scheme.

We have gathered a range of resources to help you navigate through this difficult area -click here.

Nearly 30% of all NDIS participants are people with intellectual disabilities.

Some people can qualify for access to the NDIS with just a single diagnosis. For instance, if a person has an IQ measured at 55 points or less, they should automatically have access (see NDIS “List A”), but for all other cases the person must show how their condition meets the NDIS criteria. 

Click here for resources to help a person with an intellectual disability gain access to the NDIS.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) categorises Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) into 3 levels:

• Level 1 – Requires Support

• Level 2 – Requires Substantial Support

• Level 3 – Requires Very Substantial Support

A person with a diagnosis of level 1 or level 2 ASD will need to show how they meet the NDIS disability requirements (click here for important excerpts from the NDIS Act and Operational Guidelines)

Click here for a list of resources to help people with ASD access the NDIS. 

We may come to work with parents or carers who have mental health concerns, but who may not be eligible for NDIS-funded supports themselves. Click here for a selection of resources to help support those people.

It is well known that children under the age of 7 can access supports from the NDIS without a definite diagnosis, so long as:

1. There is evidence of a developmental delay and:

2. There is a good case that putting supports in place now will help reduce the need for more supports later.

This is the so-called ‘early childhood early intervention’ criteria. But did you know this early criteria can apply to anybody up the age of 65? Not many people do know this, but you can find the criteria spelled out in the NDIS Act and Guidelines. 

We call it the ‘cat flap’ because this way into the NDIS isn’t well known, you might not see it at first, and it’s a tight squeeze, but if you get through you end up in the kitchen anyway (plus “cat flap” is easy to remember)!

Click here to see an explanation of the early intervention criteria and relevant excerpts from the NDIS Act and Operational Guidelines.