Choice and control empower individuals with disabilities to make decisions about their lives, just like anyone else. This autonomy and self-determination are fundamental aspects of human dignity and personal freedom. The principles of ‘choice and control’ are
central to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), providing individuals with disabilities with the power to make choices about the support and services they receive. This helps them to change from being passive recipients of care to active decision-makers in their own lives.

Choice and control of the participants are especially important when it comes to NDIS Core supports. These supports form the foundation of a participant’s support package under the NDIS. Core support categories including Assistance with Daily Life, Consumables, Assistance with Social & Community Participation and Transport are intended to address the most fundamental daily living needs of individuals with disabilities. Providing choice and control allows participants to tailor their Core supports to match their specific requirements, ensuring that the services they receive are the best fit for them. This also encourages service providers to deliver high-quality services and cater to the preferences of their participants.

Here at Aastha Community Services, we believe that protecting the choice and control of the participants is essential for helping them to lead fulfilling and self-directed lives. The implementation and promotion of choice and control are critical steps toward creating a more inclusive future for people with disabilities. Contact us today to learn more about the NDIS principles of ‘choice and control.’

https://www.aastha.com.au/blog/the-importance-of-choice-and-control-in-ndis-core-support/

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is founded upon the fundamental principles of inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their disability, is able to lead a fulfilling and independent life. NDIS short-term accommodation, including respite, is one such support funded to promote independence and provide a supportive environment to eligible people with disabilities. Short-term accommodation (STA) is designed to provide respite and support for both participants and their carers. It allows NDIS participants to have a short stay away from their homes and a break from their usual
routines without compromising on the quality of care and support that they receive. STA support must prioritise inclusivity and accessibility for all to ensure that the facilities at the temporary accommodation are equipped to meet the unique needs of each participant.

A short stay away from home with the help of respite care offers several advantages. It provides the participants with the opportunity to explore new experiences, creates the possibility of making new friends and acquiring new skills, and can help sustain their current living arrangements by giving informal support networks a break. Personal assistance, accommodation, meals, and skill-building activities are covered under STA funding. Short-term accommodation becomes particularly valuable when one’s usual support network is unavailable for a brief period, ensuring continuity of care and support.

Aastha Community Services ensures that all our participants receive equitable access to STA services. This responsibility stems from our commitment to promoting inclusivity and accessibility in all the support and services that we provide. Contact us today o know more.

https://www.aastha.com.au/blog/inclusivity-and-accessibility-in-ndis-short-term-accommodation/

The NDIS offers a range of transport support options to meet the diverse needs of participants. Mainly, the transport funding can be classified into two:

1. General and Specialised Transport

Individuals who require transportation for activities outside of the scope of services such as commuting to work or school, as well as for services offered by organisations other than the one funding transport assistance, are classified as General Transport. Participants are allocated funds to remunerate a service provider (which could be a support worker, taxi, Uber, etc.) to facilitate their transportation to a specific activity. This funding is exclusively designated for the transportation of the participant and cannot be allocated to a family member for chauffeuring the participant around.
2. Activity-based Transport

Activity-based transport is an integral part of another approved service within the core or capacity-building budget. During the journey, the support worker not only provides transportation but also offers support to the participant throughout the activity. This support can be delivered to multiple participants at the same time.

At Aastha Community Services, we understand that transportation is more than just a means of getting from one place to another. It’s a crucial support that connects individuals with opportunities, services, and social interactions that contribute to an independent and fulfilling life. Contact us today to access our safe, convenient, and reliable transportation support and services.

https://www.aastha.com.au/blog/transport-assistance-in-the-ndis-ensuring-accessibility-and-independence/

Supported Independent Living is a home and living support option funded by the NDIS which helps eligible participants to access paid personal support. People with higher support needs will benefit from this as it enables them to live on their own without compromising on their supports. Primary aim of SIL support is to promote the autonomy of the participant while fostering skill development. Ongoing SIL assistance within the home environment can be enhanced through the combined efforts of families and carers leading to more effective outcomes, ensuring that there is consistent progress. The journey toward independence is not without its challenges. But the support offered by families and carers can help ease the journey and offer emotional security and confidence to the SIL participants as they start their new life.

Aastha Community Services acknowledges the important role played by families and carers in creating a cohesive and efficient support network for NDIS participants. A collaborative approach with the participant’s family and carers helps registered NDIS service providers like Aastha in fine-tuning our methods, allowing us to customise strategies that facilitate participants in attaining their goals. Contact us today to know more about our Supported Independent Living
services.
https://www.aastha.com.au/blog/collaborating-with-families-and-carers-in-sil-strengthening-support-networks/