NDIS Fund for extracurricular activities
For many people with disability, extracurricular activities such as: swimming, music, sport, etc play an important role in their lives as a tool to fulfill and develop their skills. However, we all know that NDIS does not provide funds for every service unless they are relevant to the disability of the participant.
Therefore, the question will be, how do you get NDIS funding for extracurricular activities for the kids? As a Plan Manager, HiCom Care can help you with that.
Living an active life is important to staying healthy. Staying active helps to reduce your risk of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Exercise has also been linked to improved mental health and cognitive function. NDIS understands those benefits, as they do provide funding for extracurricular activities, as long as they are reasonable and necessary and related to the goals in your NDIS plan.
Two categories that relate to extracurricular activities:
(1) 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 & 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: CB support that helps building skills and independence such as art classes, sports coaching, fitness sessions, etc. These activities are often one-on-one or small group classes.
(2) 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹, 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Core support that helps disabled people engage in the community, social, recreational, or economic activities. However, it still needs to comply with your goal in the NDIS plan.
The best way for your child to get this support funding from NDIS is proposing to the planner at the plan-making meeting or extending/reviewing. Mum and Dad need to clarify how those extracurricular activities can be beneficial towards your child’s goal in terms of physical development as well as communication skills. You should also mention the equipment needed as long as they are necessary.
Not all sporting clubs and organizations are NDIS registered. That means if you are under NDIA management, you will not be able to use their services with the NDIS fund. With Plan Managers like HiCom Care, on the other hand, you can choose any service provider that suitable for you, and leave the invoices hassle to us.
NDIS can also provide funding for the equipment that needed to participate in those activities under those two following categories:
(1) 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: If you need the products to be amended to suit your needs then NDIS can fund the difference between the basic product and your adapted one. You will still have to pay for the basic product.
(2) 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆: the complex product that comes from a specialist disability supplier. You will need an OT assessment to confirm that product is necessary for you to participate.
In case your existing plan has a fund for a support worker, you can also request your support workers to take your child to those extracurricular activities. Their hourly service fee will still be the same, while their support time would also include their time of traveling to and back from the sporting clubs.
If you need more information on this matter, do not hesitate to contact us.