Whether you’re a person living with disability in Perth or someone close to you is, you’ll likely have heard of occupational therapy as a therapeutic support.
But if you’re fairly new to allied health services and the NDIS, you may not be certain about how occupational therapy can help – and there are many!
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is a type of allied health service that supports people with disability to participate in life’s daily activities. NDIS funding can be used to access occupational therapy, and you don’t need a referral to access these services.
Occupational therapists are trained professionals who provide services to people of all ages achieve self care skills and improve their capacity to participate in the activities they want and need to do through everyday life.
These therapeutic everyday activities (occupations) focus on enhancing your individual physical, mental, and emotional well being, promoting overall health and quality of life.
NDIS occupational therapy supports people to participate in activities that are meaningful to them, so they can live their lives however they choose.
Occupational therapy is goal-driven. This means occupational therapists will work towards the goals you’ve identified when creating your NDIS plan.
Some common examples of goals for NDIS occupational therapy services are:
- Improving self-esteem and supporting mental health challenges
- Stress and anxiety management
- Performing daily living skills like getting dressed, feeding and bathing
- Understanding and regulating emotions
- Increasing capacity for fine and/or gross motor skills
If you’re considering receiving NDIS occupational therapy in Perth, let’s look at how NDIS occupational therapy works, and how you can use your funding to access these services.
How Can the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) Help?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a government-funded initiative that aims to connect Australians to the services and supports they want or need, so they can reach their goals.
Anyone under the age of 65 with disability caused by permanent impairment, that impacts their ability to carry out daily life activities, is eligible for the NDIS.
How NDIS Funding Can Be Used for Occupational Therapy Services
You can use your NDIS budget to access occupational therapy. Services provided by an NDIS occupational therapist fall under ‘capacity building’ in your funding, specifically in the ‘improved daily living’ subcategory.
To apply for funding for NDIS occupational therapy services, you need to include specific goals that can be supported by occupational therapy in your NDIS plan. An NDIS planner can help you with this. Then, you can use your funding to receive occupational therapist services.
For example, your funding could be used by an NDIS occupational therapist to conduct a Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) assessment, to assist you in finding a safe and suitable home to fit your needs. There are many things NDIS occupational therapists work with you on, depending on your goals.
The Role of NDIS Occupational Therapy in Supporting People with Disability
Occupational therapists work with NDIS participants in a range of supportive ways. There are several specialised skills and services that occupational therapists can provide, such as:
- Occupational therapy driving assessments and vehicle modifications
- Functional capacity assessments
- Assistive technology
- Complex home modifications
- Specialist disability accommodations
OTs also provide support for children looking to develop personal care, play and social skills, as well as identify the most effective way they can succeed in daily tasks, at school and any types of interventions they may require.
Occupational therapists use evidence-based techniques to support you to achieve your goals, such as conducting assessments of daily activities (called Functional Capacity Assessments), and providing sensory integration therapy to assist with sensory regulation.
There are many benefits of NDIS occupational therapy for people living with disability, including increased confidence and independence, preventing injury, modifying a home or vehicle to suit their needs, and promoting well being and better mental health.
Perth Occupational Therapy at Superyou
Occupational therapy helps people with disability of all ages. Our NDIS occupational therapists adopt a holistic approach, collaborating with clients and their families to understand what’s important to them and how we can work together to achieve their goals.
Knowing how NDIS occupational therapy works will help you feel confident in knowing what to look for in a service provider to get the most out of your NDIS funding.
If you’d like to learn more about how occupational therapy can help you reach your NDIS goals, contact us today.
