There are lists of disabilities that are supported under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), such as List A and List B, but the scheme is designed to cover more disabilities than what may have been supported in the past.
If you’re thinking of applying for the NDIS, you probably have more than one impairment or disability or co-existing conditions and are curious about what impairments are covered.
The NDIS is designed to cover the full range of disabilities, including physical disability and psychosocial or mental health disability.
To look at things in terms of a social model of disability, the NDIS is designed to support people with any impairment that can be considered a disability and help them counter disabling aspects in their environment, like the lack of ramps or aids, so people can fully participate in society.
People with Disability Australia (PWDA) has encouraged the NDIS not to take a rigid approach to what disabilities it covers and instead look at the disabling aspects of an impairment that a person is seeking support with an NDIS application.
The NDIS views people as having a primary disability and possible secondary disabilities. As a person with disability, you might find this categorisation frustrating, particularly if your so-called secondary disabilities are more disabling and make it harder for you to participate fully and equally in society.
The NDIS can require you to demonstrate a chronic or permanent and severe impairment associated with your disability. But if your disability is psychosocial, demonstrating this might not work for you as your goal could be full recovery. The NDIS has acknowledged this difference in approach by introducing a psychosocial stream you may want to explore.
Sometimes your NDIS application will focus on what services you already receive, such as group home housing, as evidence you should be supported by the NDIS. For example, the clients of the service organisation types named on NDIS List C are eligible for the scheme.
PWDA encourages you to think about what you need help with to live a full and equal life.
If you or your supporters have any queries about the NDIS, you can call PWDA's Information, Intake and Referral Service on 1800 843 929.