Jargon that is used around the NDIS.

 Acronyms and jargon. 

Depending on where you are in the world some of these will be familiar to you others may seem new and this is because of the ongoing changes around the program.  I am aware that I am only scratching the surface. As these are words that I have had to understand myself please feel free to correct me if I have something wrong. 

NDIS   National disability insurance scheme is a program that replaced the programs that were run by the state and in a medical model of care, this gives clients and their families the ability to choose what they do and how support is delivered. 

State care programs   – these were programs that were state-run before the development of the NDIS

Duty of care is the responsibility to ensure a client in the program is protected or aware of the risks of their decisions.

High functioning is the level of function the client has when they have a brain-related injury, disability, or mental impairment.  This can vary depending on the level of impairment. So one person may be able to hold a part-time job independently another may not.

Low functioning again refers to the level of support a person needs day to day depending on their level of impairment, a person with complex needs may need around-the-clock care to prevent futter harm to themselves or others.

The dignity of risk – So this refers to when a carer or support worker is working with a client and a client makes a decision that the support worker may not agree with such as deciding to smoke or drink alcohol when they can be aware of the consequences of their actions.

Duty of care - this is when a support worker needs to step in and prevent harm to a client that may have a history of harmful behavior such as self-harm, restricting food intake, substance abuse, or not seeking medical help when needed.  

However this is a very complex issue around the dignity of risk and duty of care, and I feel that deserves its own post. 

The right to fail. - this is exactly what it sounds like the right to take a risk and fail at taking that risk so that risk for me in the past was living independently with a drop in support. I had never lived independently before and living on a government income I didn't know how to meal plan, manage my time or how to maintain healthy relationships with my family I see that this created a lot of issues that my family is still working through.   

So the right to fail is very complex and I will go into it a lot more in later posts. I think that this is an issue that needs a lot more thought around it as it goes into the complexity that is the medical model of care vs the social model of care that the NDIS is based around.  A lot of people don't understand what the role of a support worker needs to be and how complex it is. 

Physical age this is the physical age of the client and is mostly around when a person regardless of their developmental age this is mostly used in clients that are lower functioning and have impaired decision making so they need complex care plans that may involve using behavioural support plans including restrictive practices and being able to evaluate whether programs are appropriate to the client.

Developmental age – This is a benchmark of what the person's level of understanding is around the issues that are going to affect them, so a person who is high functioning might be physically in their 30s but an understanding of a Teen. ( I will do more homework on this.)

Level of understanding – This is what level of development the person is at vs the development of a person without disabilities.

Support worker – a person who works with a person with disabilities to improve their skills to work towards their goal

Despite  - the client's time away from their usual programs or care team, this can be to give an unpaid carer a break or used to give a person an opportunity to spend time with people their own age.

Self-determination – giving a person who is high functioning the options around making decisions to be able to make the best decision for them. This may involve things like supported decision-making, and having a pre-paid debit card to prevent overspending. This is a practical application of the combination of the dignity of risk vs duty of care.  

Advocacy – having someone or yourself, pushing for the right supports for you, ( as some providers are more person-centered than others)

Housing options – so this is what type of housing is appropriate to your situation – so someone who is high functioning may be able to live independently with just a drop in-supports however others due to social or emotional needs may not.

ILO (independent living options) so is an option around being able to live normally on your own that is appropriate to your life stage and care needs

Plan - what determines your funding in the NDIS as your plan is linked to your goals and what you want to do in life. 

Goals - are around your physical, emotional, and life goals, that are linked to your abilities. 

Activities of daily living - so these are things that would be appropriate to your level of ability and mobility. 

Mobility -  the ability to move around on your own or with assistance from others.  

Mobility aids - are things that help you to maintain independence in your home or other living situation.  there are different types of Mobility aids that can include walking sticks, walking frames, wheelie walkers, wheelchairs,  adjustable beds, easy chairs as well as kitchen aids. 

Functional capacity assessment - so this is when an Occupational Therapist will see where you need help. 

Support workers - these are people paid to help you with your goals or activities of daily living which could be dressing, meal planning, light cleaning, transport, organization, budgeting, and social support. 

 

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