Guide to Preparing for an SDA Referral: What to Have Ready

Finding the right Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) can feel overwhelming, particularly when there are reports, assessments, funding requirements and housing preferences to consider.

A well-prepared referral can make the process easier for everyone involved and help an SDA provider understand what a participant is looking for from the beginning.

While everyone’s circumstances are different, there are several key pieces of information that are helpful to have ready.

What documents should you prepare?

The exact documentation required will depend on the participant's circumstances and where they are in the SDA process. However, useful documents may include:

• Current NDIS plan or evidence that SDA funding has been included, or on the way.
• Occupational Therapy (OT) assessment or functional capacity assessment
• Specialist reports relevant to the participant's disability and housing needs
• Information about current living arrangements
• Details about current support arrangements
• Information about the participant's SDA funding, including building type and design category
• Any relevant information about accessibility or assistive technology requirements
• Information about future housing or support needs where these are known

Allied health and other support reports can help understand a participant's functional impairment, daily support needs, barriers and housing requirements.

What information will an SDA provider ask for?

When contacting an SDA provider, we will generally want to understand more than just whether a participant has SDA funding.

Questions you may be asked include:

The participant

• What are their goals for their new home?
• What type of environment do they prefer?
• Do they want to live alone or with other people?
• What location would work best?
• What are their accessibility requirements?

Their support needs

• What assistance do they currently receive?
• How frequently do they require support?
• Are there particular mobility, transfer or communication requirements?
• Are there any features they need in their home?

Their funding

• What SDA category is included in their plan?
• What building type is funded?
• What information is available about their SDA budget?
• Are other supports such as SIL or other in-home supports involved?

Don't forget the participant's preferences

An SDA referral shouldn't just describe a person's disability, it should help paint a picture of the person.

Where possible, think about:

• Where does the participant want to live?
• What does independence look like for them?
• What matters to them in a home?
• What would make them feel comfortable and safe

An SDA home should work alongside a person's broader goals and supports, rather than looking at the property in isolation.

How can you prepare the participant?

Before making an enquiry, have an honest conversation with the participant about what the process might look like.

It can be helpful to discuss:

• What SDA is and what it isn't
• Why they are considering a move
• What they like and dislike about their current home
• Their preferred location
• Whether they would like housemates
• What features are important to them
• What questions they want to ask a provider
• What the next steps might involve

Most importantly, involve the participant in the decision-making process.

SDA is someone's home. The referral process should therefore be about finding a home that works for the person, not simply filling a vacancy.

Whether you're supporting a participant who is ready to make a referral or you're still gathering information, our team is here to help. Contact Adenium Living to discuss your housing needs, ask questions about our available homes, or explore what the next steps could look like.