What specialist disability accommodation (SDA) is
Specialist disability accommodation (SDA) is a range of housing to support people with:
- extreme functional impairment
- very high support needs.
It may be suitable when other home and living supports do not meet your disability needs.
SDA is housing designed to have features which meet your disability support needs. For example, SDA properties may include wide doorways, wheelchair-accessible kitchen sinks, ceiling hoists, or button-operated doors.
There are different types of SDA
It can be a house, apartment, villa, duplex or townhouse.
It’s also categorised by how it is built to suit your disability needs. These categories are:
Improved liveability
Housing with better physical access and more features for people with sensory, intellectual or cognitive impairments. For example, walls and floors that are very easy to see or living areas that mean your support workers can see you easily.
Fully accessible
Housing with a high level of physical access features for people who have lots of physical challenges. For example, you need to use a wheelchair at home.
Robust
Housing that is built to be safe for you and others. It’s very strong and durable, reducing the need for repairs and maintenance. This type of design category may suit people who need help managing complex and challenging behaviours.
High physical support
Housing including a high level of physical access for people who need very high levels of support. For example, it may have ceiling hoists, backup power supply or home automation and communication technology.
What isn’t SDA
SDA doesn’t include NDIS supports or other services you might get in your home for your disability, including:
- Personal care like support to eat, shower or transferring out of bed
- supported independent living (SIL)
- individualised living options (ILO)
- assistive technology.
Tip: Other than SDA, we don’t fund housing.
Most participants will have a home by owning or renting it, or through social housing. There are state or territory government programs that can help you if you need affordable housing or might become homeless.
Your my NDIS contact can help you learn more about these services.
What specialist disability accommodation (SDA) is for
SDA helps you live more independently and allows your other supports to be delivered better or more safely. For example, you might need a home with reinforced ceilings so you can get a ceiling hoist installed.
To be able to provide NDIS funding for SDA, we need to look at how SDA will work with your other supports and that it meets the NDIS funding criteria.
Learn more about how to ask for home and living supports.
What specialist disability accommodation (SDA) is like
Homes must be enrolled by a registered provider
Providers need to be registered to offer SDA. This means they are registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission .
Providers must apply to enrol homes with us that meet the standards and requirements for SDA. When the application is approved, we call these homes SDA dwellings.
It’s generally paired with other NDIS funding
Many participants living in SDA also have funding for in-home supports, like SIL funding. The SDA funding pays the SDA provider, the SIL funding pays for your carers, and you cover the rent and bills.
It usually involves sharing a home with others
SDA is often a home with a small number of other people where you will have your own private bedroom. You can choose to share your bedroom with other people, like a partner, if you want to.
Sometimes participants may be able to live on their own if that is the best option for their needs.
Finding your SDA
You can find vacancies by using the SDA finder if you have SDA funding. You can search by location, building type and maximum price per year.
You can also find an SDA provider in a variety of other ways, including:
- referral from a support coordinator or recovery coach
- recommendations from friends and family
- exploring other online resources and websites including the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission .
If you're having trouble finding SDA in your local area, contact your my NDIS contact for support.
You must tell us who your SDA provider is
You need to record your SDA provider on your plan as a my provider if your plan is in our new computer system.
Learn more about recording my providers.
You must have a service agreement
You and your provider must create a written service agreement if you have SDA supports.
You pay the rent and bills
You then pay a reasonable rent contribution and other day-to-day living costs, such as electricity bills.
Your rent contribution will be an agreed amount paid directly to your SDA provider. This detail should be included in your service agreement.
Tip: We provide guidance on rent.
The amount of rent a provider can charge you must not exceed the amount of the maximum reasonable rent contribution (MRRC). This is outlined in the SDA pricing arrangements (PDF 1.23 MB).
Our Guideline
Download the SDA guideline:
- Specialist disability accommodation - PDF 372.37 KB
- Specialist disability accommodation - DOCX 100.24 KB