Touchstone Volume 32 May 2019 | Page 9

The new Toowoomba villas will accommodate six people and have been specifically designed to include height adjustable kitchen benches, accessible bathrooms, and provision for automation and assistive technology. What is Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)? Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is housing specifically designed for people who have high support needs and are unable to live in mainstream housing. SDA has the potential to transform the lives of people with a disability because it allows them to live more independently. What is Supported Independent Living (SIL)? Supported Independent Living (SIL) is assistance with, or supervision of, daily tasks to develop a person’s skills so they can live as independently as possible. SIL is available to people who need access to 24/7 support, and they will most likely be sharing with other people. What’s the deal with NDIS funding? People who want to apply for SIL or SDA will need to have approval from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to say they’re eligible. The first step is to lodge a “Change of Circumstances” request with the NDIA. You will need to clearly identify that your new goal is to find suitable housing, and explain why you need to achieve this. The process isn’t difficult but it does take time and energy! A heads up for new applicants: it can take around three months from your initial application to being approved. This is because the NDIA will require functional assessments. Are there any vacancies at the moment? For SIL, we have a number of vacancies across our Queensland and Northern New South Wales sites. For SDA, we have an existing property in Brisbane, and a brand new SDA property being built in Toowoomba which will be ready shortly. TIPS FOR APPLYING 1 Be patient - the process will generally take a few months. 2 If you need specific modifications, for example a fully accessible bathroom, make sure you explain this to the NDIA in your application. 3 Please be aware that SIL arrangements are most commonly shared supports, so you would be living with other people. Visit cpl.org.au/housing-options to enquire about housing with CPL, or call 1800 941 069. CPL – Choice, Passion, Life 9