Writing Reports for NDIS Access and Reviews: help for doctors, therapists and families

At MyCareSpace we always have our ear to the proverbial NDIS ground and have heard that many participants, doctors, therapists and families have been having trouble when writing or accessing reports and assessments that are not in the correct NDIS speak. 

To write effective supporting documentation for people with disabilities and complex support needs seeking access to the NDIS (or needing to change existing plans), you need to get the words right. 

People with disability seeking access to NDIS funding need to meet criteria of permanent impairment. This requires health practitioners to demonstrate the connection between the health condition and the impairment, and the impact these have on the person’s ability to undertake tasks or activities (activity limitation) and their ability to participate in life roles (participation).

To meet the criteria for disability eligibility, you have to show that the impairment substantially reduces the person’s functional capacity. To do this, health practitioners need to:

1. Use the language of diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation to described the condition and the impairment
2. Build on this to write about activity limitation, function and participation.

AND make sure they use the correct language required by the NDIS.

We did some searching and found 2 great guides to help join the dots between clinical language and what it focusses on, and the words required by NDIS - the language you will need to use in any supporting documentation you provide. 

1) Getting the Language Right -  Summer Foundation's guide to writing for the NDIS
Written by the Summer Foundation which is a Not for Profit organisation supporting, informing and empowering people with disability and their families.

2) Making NDIS Application and Report Writing Easier - A guide to the NDIS for individuals, practioners and families.
Written from a first hand perspective as a Participant, Ms Meredith Whitlaw