Home Modifications
Making modifications to your home can make your environment work for your needs. Making these changes is so necessary, and on the surface, they might seem like a pretty simple process, however, it is so much more complex than anyone would think.
Disclaimer: I am neither home modifications expert nor an NDIS expert. As an Occupational Therapist, I have met with so much disappointment at the home modifications process in the past, that I am trying to explain the process so that participants and their families can better understand the process and manage their expectations of the process and their expectations of what the Occupational Therapist is able to assist them with.
At this point in time (April 2023) Occupational Therapists who are working in coastal and metropolitan areas of NSW are reporting that work they started with participants in January 2021 is now being completed, this is 27 months from the Occupational Therapist meeting the participant to when the participant has their suitable environment (and does not include the time if you have had to wait to become an NDIS participant, or the wait for an Occupational Therapist).
Why does it take this long?
There are more steps than you would imagine in the process to make changes to your home. In addition and there are significant shortages of Occupational Therapists who are experienced in home modifications and significant shortages of people working in the building industry which means that everyone is waiting. These shortages are often more pronounced in rural areas.
The simplified steps of a home modification if you do it by yourself without funding for the project:
The simplified steps of a home modification when you are seeking NDIS funding for the project:
Focus on Function have Occupational Therapists who are currently taking referrals for Home Modifications in the Narrabri Shire.
If more information is requested by the NDIA, the length of time to get back to the point of submission varies.
In the event that the submission is declined, you can accept the decision or challenge the decision. If you want to challenge the decision of the NDIA, the length of time to do this varies as does the options for making a challenge. Your Occupational Therapist will be able to provide information about options and the following links and email addresses may be of assistance to you to go through the process.
https://www.aat.gov.au/apply-for-a-review/national-disability-insurance-scheme-ndis
or email communications@family-advocacy.com
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