No Waitlist for SDA Assessments

Belong Health currently has immediate capacity for Specialist Disability Accommodation Assessments.

Our Senior Occupational Therapists work closely with participants, families, Support Coordinators, Specialist Support Coordinators, housing providers and other allied health professionals to prepare comprehensive reports that clearly explain a participant's housing needs and the impact their current environment has on everyday functioning.

We understand that housing applications are often time-sensitive and are committed to providing high-quality assessments while maintaining clear communication throughout the assessment process.
What Is a Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Assessment?

A Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Assessment is a comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessment that explores whether a participant's disability-related needs require specialised housing that cannot reasonably be provided through standard accommodation.

Rather than focusing only on diagnosis, the assessment considers how a person's disability interacts with their current living environment and whether changes to that environment may improve:
  • Safety
  • Accessibility
  • Independence
  • Functional participation
  • Quality of life
  • Long-term wellbeing
The assessment provides detailed clinical evidence describing how environmental barriers affect everyday activities and whether specialised housing should be explored.

​Where appropriate, recommendations may relate to:
  • Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
  • Assistive Technology
  • Home Modifications
  • Functional Capacity Assessments
  • Supported Independent Living (SIL)
  • Pressure Care
  • Seating and Wheelchair needs
  • Other Occupational Therapy supports
Why Might Someone Need an SDA Assessment?

Every person's circumstances are different.
An SDA Assessment may be appropriate when a participant's current home environment creates significant barriers to everyday life or no longer meets their disability-related needs.
Examples may include:
  • A wheelchair user who cannot safely access essential areas of their home.
  • A participant requiring ceiling hoists or specialised equipment that cannot be installed safely.
  • Someone who requires significant physical assistance because their home is not accessible.
  • A participant with progressive neurological conditions whose mobility is changing over time.
  • Someone whose current home creates ongoing safety risks despite existing supports.
  • A participant whose disability-related needs have changed significantly since their current housing was established.

​The purpose of the assessment is to understand whether changes to the living environment may reduce these barriers and support greater independence.
Housing Is More Than Somewhere to Live

Occupational Therapists understand that housing influences almost every aspect of daily life.
The design of a home affects how a person:
  • Gets out of bed.
  • Uses the bathroom.
  • Prepares meals.
  • Moves safely around the house.
  • Accesses the community.
  • Uses Assistive Technology.
  • Receives personal care.
  • Sleeps.
  • Socialises with family and friends.
  • Participates in meaningful daily activities.
For some participants, improving the home environment can have just as much impact on independence as therapy or specialised equipment.

This is why Occupational Therapists place such importance on understanding the relationship between the person, their environment and the activities that are important to them.
Who May Benefit from an SDA Assessment?

Specialist Disability Accommodation is intended for a relatively small group of NDIS participants with very high support needs or extreme functional impairment.

An SDA Assessment may be appropriate for participants who:
  • Require complex physical supports.
  • Use wheelchairs or other specialised mobility equipment.
  • Require significant Assistive Technology within the home.
  • Experience major environmental barriers.
  • Require specialised bathroom or kitchen access.
  • Have progressive neurological conditions.
  • Have significant physical disabilities.
  • Require specialised housing to support long-term independence.
An Occupational Therapy assessment helps determine whether specialised housing should be explored based on the participant's functional needs.
​
Eligibility for SDA funding is determined by the NDIA in accordance with current legislation and operational guidelines.
How Occupational Therapists Help with SDA Applications

Occupational Therapists play an important role in helping participants demonstrate how their disability affects everyday functioning within their current home environment.

Rather than simply describing the participant's diagnosis, an Occupational Therapist explains:
  • How disability affects everyday activities.
  • How the current home limits independence.
  • What environmental barriers exist.
  • Why those barriers cannot reasonably be overcome through standard housing alone.
  • How specialised housing may improve participation, safety and quality of life.
This evidence forms an important part of the overall information considered by the NDIA when assessing SDA eligibility.
A Person-Centred Approach

Every participant has different goals, support needs and living circumstances.
Some people hope to remain living independently for many years.
Others are planning to move into supported accommodation.

Some require significant physical accessibility, while others needenvironments that better support behavioural, sensory or cognitive needs.
Our Occupational Therapists take the time to understand what matters most to you before developing practical, evidence-informed recommendations that reflect your current needs and future aspirations.

Every assessment is tailored to the individual because no two participants - and no two homes - are exactly the same.
Understanding the Occupational Therapy Role in SDA Assessments

One of the most common misconceptions about Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is that eligibility is determined by a person's diagnosis alone.

In reality, an Occupational Therapy SDA Assessment focuses on something much broader.
Rather than asking, "What diagnosis does this person have?", Occupational Therapists ask:
  • How does this person's disability affect their everyday life?
  • What barriers exist within their current home?
  • Can these barriers reasonably be overcome?
  • Would a different housing environment improve independence, safety and participation?
  • What housing features are required to support long-term functional needs?

​This functional approach helps ensure recommendations are based on the participant's individual circumstances rather than their diagnosis alone.
Looking Beyond the Diagnosis

Two people with the same diagnosis may have very different housing needs.
For example, two participants with cerebral palsy may have completely different levels of mobility, support requirements, equipment needs and environmental barriers.

Similarly, two participants with multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease may experience very different rates of progression and functional abilities.
This is why Occupational Therapists assess:
  • Functional capacity
  • Everyday activities
  • Current living environment
  • Equipment requirements
  • Support needs
  • Future planning
rather than relying solely on a medical diagnosis.
Understanding the Relationship Between the Person and Their Environment

Occupational Therapists recognise that disability is influenced by the interaction between the individual and the environment around them.
Sometimes the greatest barrier to independence is not the person's disability—it is the design of the home they live in.

For example, a participant may:
  • Be able to prepare meals independently but be unable to access their kitchen due to narrow spaces.
  • Be able to transfer safely but be prevented by a small bathroom layout.
  • Have the skills to manage personal care but require unnecessary physical assistance because their shower is inaccessible.
  • Be unable to use essential equipment because there is insufficient space within the home.
In these situations, improving the environment may significantly improve participation without changing the person's underlying disability.
What Does an Occupational Therapist Assess During an SDA Assessment?

Every assessment is tailored to the participant's individual needs.
Depending on the referral, your Occupational Therapist may assess several important areas of everyday functioning.

Functional Capacity
A detailed understanding of functional capacity forms the foundation of every SDA Assessment.
The Occupational Therapist may assess:
  • Mobility
  • Transfers
  • Personal care
  • Domestic activities
  • Community participation
  • Communication
  • Self-management
  • Daily routines
  • Fatigue
  • Endurance
  • Safety awareness
Understanding how disability affects everyday activities helps determine whether the current home environment is appropriate.
Where a broader understanding of everyday functioning is required, we may also recommend a Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA).

Home Environment
Your current home is assessed to identify environmental barriers that may affect safety, independence and participation.
This may include assessing:
  • Entry and exit points
  • Doorway widths
  • Hallway access
  • Bathroom layout
  • Kitchen accessibility
  • Bedroom configuration
  • Laundry access
  • Flooring
  • Lighting
  • Outdoor access
  • Parking and vehicle access
Rather than simply describing the home, the Occupational Therapist considers how these features affect your ability to complete meaningful everyday activities.

Mobility and Transfers
Safe movement throughout the home is an important part of every SDA Assessment.
The Occupational Therapist may observe:
  • Walking
  • Wheelchair mobility
  • Transfers between chairs, beds and toilets
  • Use of mobility equipment
  • Access to different rooms
  • Use of stairs
  • Fatigue during movement
  • Need for physical assistance
Where mobility limitations are identified, recommendations may include specialised housing features, Assistive Technology or additional assessments.

Personal Care
The Occupational Therapist considers how easily everyday personal care activities can be completed within the current home.
This may include:
  • Showering
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming
  • Toileting
  • Continence management
The assessment explores whether environmental barriers make these activities more difficult, unsafe or dependent on assistance from others.

Daily Living Activities
Housing should support participation in everyday life.
The Occupational Therapist may assess how the home environment affects:
  • Meal preparation
  • Laundry
  • Cleaning
  • Household organisation
  • Medication routines
  • Using Assistive Technology
  • Caring responsibilities
  • Leisure activities
The goal is to understand how the environment either supports or limits independence.

Assistive Technology
Many participants use equipment that interacts closely with their home environment.
The Occupational Therapist may review:
  • Manual wheelchairs
  • Powered wheelchairs
  • Shower chairs
  • Transfer equipment
  • Pressure care equipment
  • Ceiling hoists
  • Hospital beds
  • Standing aids
  • Environmental control systems
  • Communication devices
The assessment considers whether the current home can safely accommodate this equipment and whether additional space or specialised housing features are required.

Environmental Barriers
One of the most valuable parts of an SDA Assessment is identifying barriers that may not be immediately obvious.
Examples include:
  • Narrow doorways that prevent wheelchair access.
  • Bathrooms that cannot safely accommodate shower equipment.
  • Kitchens that limit independent meal preparation.
  • Limited turning space for mobility equipment.
  • Insufficient storage for essential Assistive Technology.
  • Inaccessible entrances.
  • Unsafe flooring.
  • Lack of emergency egress.
Occupational Therapists assess how these barriers affect daily life rather than simply documenting the physical environment.

Future Planning
SDA Assessments also consider future needs where appropriate.
This is particularly important for participants with progressive conditions or changing support requirements.
Future planning may consider:
  • Progression of neurological conditions.
  • Increasing mobility needs.
  • Changes in Assistive Technology.
  • Ageing.
  • Changes in informal supports.
  • Long-term housing goals.
  • Future independence.
Planning ahead helps ensure housing continues to meet the participant's needs over time.
Why Standard Housing Isn't Always Enough

Most homes are designed for the general population.
For some people living with disability, standard housing may create barriers that significantly affect everyday participation.
Examples include:
  • A participant requiring two support workers to complete transfers because there is insufficient bathroom space.
  • A wheelchair user unable to independently access their bedroom.
  • Someone unable to safely evacuate during an emergency.
  • A participant who cannot use essential Assistive Technology because of limited space.
  • A person whose current home increases fatigue due to unnecessary physical effort.

​In these situations, the home itself becomes a barrier to independence.
An SDA Assessment explores whether a different housing environment may better support the participant's functional needs.
Clinical Reasoning - The Occupational Therapy Difference

One of the most important parts of an SDA Assessment happens after the home visit.
Occupational Therapists use clinical reasoning to bring together information from:
  • Interviews
  • Functional observations
  • Environmental assessment
  • Previous reports
  • Standardised assessments where appropriate
  • Participant goals
  • Family and support worker input
  • Current NDIS supports
  • Evidence-informed practice
Rather than simply describing what was observed, the Occupational Therapist explains why barriers exist, how they affect everyday participation and what changes may help reduce those barriers.

​This detailed clinical reasoning forms the foundation of a comprehensive SDA Assessment report and helps clearly explain the relationship between the participant's disability, their home environment and their long-term housing needs.
Understanding the Four Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Design Categories

One of the most common questions we receive is:
"Which type of SDA housing is right for me?"

The answer depends entirely on the participant's individual functional needs, support requirements and long-term goals.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) currently recognises four Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) design categories.
Each category has different design features intended to support participants with different disability-related needs.

An Occupational Therapy SDA Assessment does not choose a design category based on diagnosis alone.
Instead, recommendations are based on how a participant's disability affects their everyday functioning and what type of environment may best support their independence, safety and quality of life.
Improved Liveability

Improved Liveability housing is designed for people whose disability-related needs are primarily associated with sensory, intellectual or cognitive impairments.

Rather than focusing on complex physical accessibility, these homes incorporate design features that make everyday environments easier to understand, navigate and use.
​
The aim is to reduce environmental barriers that may affect participation, orientation and independence.
Examples of design features may include:
  • Improved visual contrast
  • Better lighting
  • Simplified layouts
  • Clear wayfinding
  • Reduced environmental complexity
  • Improved orientation throughout the home
These features may support individuals who experience difficulties processing information, navigating unfamiliar environments or managing sensory input.

​Who May Benefit from Improved Liveability Housing?
Depending on individual circumstances, Improved Liveability housing may be appropriate for participants with:
  • Intellectual disability
  • Autism
  • Acquired brain injury
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Sensory processing differences
  • Other conditions where environmental design influences functional participation
Recommendations are always based on functional needs rather than diagnosis.

What Does an Occupational Therapist Consider?
During an SDA Assessment, the Occupational Therapist may explore:
  • Ability to navigate the home independently
  • Environmental triggers
  • Sensory processing needs
  • Wayfinding difficulties
  • Executive functioning
  • Daily routines
  • Cognitive demands created by the home environment
The goal is to determine whether changes to the home's design may improve participation and reduce unnecessary barriers.
Fully Accessible

Fully Accessible housing is designed for participants with significant physical disabilities who require a high level of accessibility throughout the home.
The focus is on enabling participants to move safely and independently between rooms while accessing essential areas of the home.
​
Typical design features may include:
  • Step-free access
  • Wider doorways
  • Wider hallways
  • Accessible bathrooms
  • Accessible kitchens
  • Increased circulation space
  • Wheelchair-accessible layouts
  • Accessible external pathways
These design features aim to reduce physical barriers and support greater independence during everyday activities.

Who May Benefit from Fully Accessible Housing?
Participants who experience significant mobility limitations may benefit from Fully Accessible housing.
Examples may include individuals who:
  • Use wheelchairs
  • Use walking aids
  • Have neurological conditions
  • Experience reduced balance
  • Require accessible bathrooms
  • Require greater space for transfers
Again, eligibility is based on functional need rather than diagnosis.

What Does an Occupational Therapist Assess?
The Occupational Therapist may observe:
  • Wheelchair mobility
  • Transfers
  • Bathroom access
  • Kitchen access
  • Bedroom access
  • Ability to move throughout the home
  • Community entry and exit
  • Functional reach
  • Turning space
Recommendations are based on how accessibility affects participation in everyday life.
Robust

Robust housing is designed for participants whose disability-related needs require homes with enhanced durability and additional safety features.
​
The purpose is to create environments that support both the participant and the people who provide support.
Depending on individual needs, design features may include:
  • Impact-resistant materials
  • Stronger fixtures and fittings
  • Improved visibility throughout the home
  • Safer internal layouts
  • Reduced environmental hazards
  • Enhanced privacy
  • Secure outdoor areas where appropriate
These homes aim to reduce environmental risks while supporting positive daily routines.

Who May Benefit from Robust Housing?
Robust housing may be appropriate where the participant's disability-related needs mean that additional environmental durability or safety features are required.
Recommendations are based on detailed Occupational Therapy assessment and, where appropriate, may be supported by input from a Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner.

Working Alongside Positive Behaviour Support
Housing and behaviour are closely connected.
For some participants, environmental design may influence:
  • Emotional regulation
  • Stress
  • Safety
  • Behavioural escalation
  • Daily routines
  • Participation within the home
Where appropriate, our Occupational Therapists collaborate with Positive Behaviour Support Practitioners to ensure housing recommendations consider the participant's overall support needs.
High Physical Support

High Physical Support housing provides the highest level of physical accessibility available through Specialist Disability Accommodation.
These homes are designed for participants with very high physical support needs who require complex equipment and extensive daily assistance.
Typical design features may include:
  • Ceiling hoist provision
  • Emergency power backup
  • Environmental control systems
  • Structural support for specialised equipment
  • Extensive wheelchair accessibility
  • Space for multiple support workers
  • Complex Assistive Technology integration
These design features help support participants with significant physical disabilities while making it safer for support workers to provide assistance.

Who May Benefit from High Physical Support Housing?
Participants with complex physical disabilities may benefit where they require:
  • Extensive mobility assistance
  • Ceiling hoists
  • Complex transfers
  • Powered mobility
  • Pressure care equipment
  • Multiple support workers
  • High levels of daily personal care
Occupational Therapy recommendations are based on observed functional needs and clinical reasoning.
Choosing the Most Appropriate SDA Design Category

One of the Occupational Therapist's roles is to determine which design features may best support the participant's disability-related needs.
This involves considering:
  • Functional capacity
  • Mobility
  • Personal care
  • Environmental barriers
  • Assistive Technology
  • Support worker requirements
  • Future needs
  • Long-term independence
  • Safety
  • Participation goals
Rather than asking, "Which category does this diagnosis fit into?", Occupational Therapists ask:
"Which environment will best support this person to live safely, independently and meaningfully over the long term?"
The Right Housing Is Different for Everyone

Every participant has unique goals, strengths and support needs.

Two people with the same diagnosis may require completely different housing solutions.

Similarly, two homes with the same SDA design category may support participants in very different ways depending on their layout, location, Assistive Technology and support arrangements.

This is why every SDA Assessment completed by Belong Health is personalised.

Our recommendations are based on comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessment, clinical reasoning and an understanding of how the participant's home environment influences everyday participation.
What Happens During a Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Assessment?

Every Specialist Disability Accommodation Assessment is tailored to the participant's individual circumstances.
No two assessments are exactly the same because every participant has different:
  • Functional abilities
  • Housing situations
  • Support needs
  • Goals
  • Assistive Technology requirements
  • Family circumstances
  • Future aspirations
Rather than following a simple checklist, Occupational Therapists combine interviews, functional observations, environmental assessment, clinical reasoning and evidence-informed practice to understand how a participant's current home affects their everyday life.

The assessment process is collaborative, person-centred and focused on developing practical recommendations that reflect the participant's disability-related needs.
Step 1 - Understanding the Referral

The assessment begins by understanding why the SDA Assessment has been requested.
Your Occupational Therapist may review:
  • Referral information
  • Previous Occupational Therapy reports
  • Functional Capacity Assessments
  • Medical reports
  • Hospital discharge summaries
  • Home Modification reports
  • Assistive Technology reports
  • Positive Behaviour Support Plans
  • Previous NDIS plans
  • Housing reports
Reviewing existing information helps build an understanding of your current circumstances before the assessment begins.
Step 2 - Getting to Know You

Before assessing your home, your Occupational Therapist wants to understand you.
We take time to learn about:
  • Your goals
  • Daily routines
  • Current living arrangements
  • What is important to you
  • Your support network
  • Your future aspirations
  • Your concerns about your current home
This ensures recommendations are based on what matters most to you rather than focusing solely on your disability.
Step 3 - Understanding Your Current Living Environment

Your Occupational Therapist will assess how your current home supports-or limits-your everyday participation.
This may include looking at:
  • Entry and exit points
  • Internal access
  • Bedroom
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Laundry
  • Living areas
  • Outdoor areas
  • Parking
  • Storage
  • Access for mobility equipment
The aim is not to criticise the home but to understand whether environmental barriers are affecting everyday life.
Step 4 - Functional Assessment

The Occupational Therapist observes how you complete meaningful everyday activities within your current environment.
This may include:
Mobility
  • Walking
  • Wheelchair use
  • Transfers
  • Access between rooms
  • Negotiating thresholds
  • Using ramps
  • Entering and exiting the property

Personal Care
Including:
  • Showering
  • Dressing
  • Toileting
  • Grooming
  • Bathroom transfers

Domestic Activities
Including:
  • Cooking
  • Meal preparation
  • Laundry
  • Cleaning
  • Household organisation

Community Participation
The Occupational Therapist may also consider:
  • Leaving the home
  • Attending appointments
  • Shopping
  • Recreation
  • Social participation
  • Transport
The goal is to understand how the home environment affects participation across all areas of everyday life.
Do You Also Need a Functional Capacity Assessment?
​
When exploring Specialist Disability Accommodation, understanding how your disability affects your everyday functioning is important. A Functional Capacity Assessment may form part of the evidence used to describe your functional capacity and support needs. Learn whether an FCA may be appropriate.
​
Learn more Do I Need a Functional Capacity Assessment?
Step 5 - Reviewing Equipment and Assistive Technology

Many participants undergoing an SDA Assessment use Assistive Technology.
Your Occupational Therapist may review:
  • Wheelchairs
  • Powered wheelchairs
  • Walking aids
  • Shower equipment
  • Hoists
  • Hospital beds
  • Pressure care equipment
  • Transfer equipment
  • Communication devices
  • Environmental control systems
The assessment explores whether your current home safely accommodates this equipment and whether additional environmental features are required.
Step 6 - Identifying Environmental Barriers

This is one of the most important stages of the assessment.
Rather than simply describing the home, Occupational Therapists identify how the environment affects function.
Examples may include:
  • Narrow hallways preventing wheelchair access.
  • Bathrooms that require unsafe transfers.
  • Kitchens that cannot be accessed independently.
  • Bedrooms with insufficient space for equipment.
  • Limited access for support workers.
  • Unsafe flooring.
  • Poor lighting.
  • Limited emergency access.
Each barrier is considered in relation to its impact on everyday participation.
Step 7 - Future Planning

An SDA Assessment also considers future needs where appropriate.
This may include:
  • Progressive neurological conditions.
  • Changes in mobility.
  • Increasing Assistive Technology needs.
  • Ageing.
  • Changes in informal supports.
  • Future housing goals.
  • Long-term sustainability.
Planning ahead helps ensure recommendations continue to meet the participant's needs over time.
Step 8 - Clinical Reasoning

Following the assessment, your Occupational Therapist analyses all of the information gathered.
This includes considering:
  • Functional capacity
  • Environmental barriers
  • Current supports
  • Assistive Technology
  • Future needs
  • Participant goals
  • Safety
  • Quality of life
  • Housing suitability
Clinical reasoning is where Occupational Therapists explain why the current home may not adequately support the participant and how specialised housing may reduce barriers to participation.
Step 9 - Preparing Your SDA Assessment Report

Following the assessment, your Occupational Therapist prepares a detailed report.
The report typically includes:
  • Participant background
  • Functional capacity
  • Current living arrangements
  • Environmental assessment
  • Clinical observations
  • Functional impacts
  • Environmental barriers
  • Assistive Technology considerations
  • Future planning
  • Clinical reasoning
  • Recommendations
The report explains how the participant's disability interacts with their environment and why specialised housing may be appropriate.
What Recommendations May Be Included?

Every recommendation is tailored to the participant's circumstances.
Depending on the assessment findings, recommendations may include:
  • Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
  • Home Modifications
  • Assistive Technology
  • Functional Capacity Assessment
  • Supported Independent Living (SIL)
  • Positive Behaviour Support
  • Pressure Care Assessment
  • Seating and Wheelchair Assessment
  • Occupational Therapy intervention
  • Capacity Building supports
  • Environmental modifications
  • Housing design considerations
Recommendations are based on identified functional needs and evidence gathered throughout the assessment.
Working Together With Your Support Team

High-quality SDA Assessments are collaborative.
With your consent, your Occupational Therapist may work alongside:
  • Family members
  • Carers
  • Support workers
  • Support Coordinators
  • Specialist Support Coordinators
  • General Practitioners
  • Specialists
  • Physiotherapists
  • Speech Pathologists
  • Positive Behaviour Support Practitioners
  • Housing providers
  • Hospital teams
Working together helps ensure recommendations reflect your everyday experiences and long-term goals.
Why Comprehensive Evidence Matters

Specialist Disability Accommodation funding is designed for participants with significant housing needs.
For this reason, detailed clinical evidence is essential.

A comprehensive Occupational Therapy SDA Assessment helps explain:
  • How disability affects everyday life.
  • Why the current home creates barriers.
  • Why standard housing may no longer be suitable.
  • How specialised housing may improve safety, independence and participation.

​The report provides clear, evidence-informed clinical reasoning that may assist the NDIA when considering SDA eligibility.
Funding decisions remain the responsibility of the NDIA and are made in accordance with current legislation and operational guidelines.
Why Choose Belong Health?
​
At Belong Health, we understand that suitable housing is about much more than bricks and mortar.
It is about creating an environment where people can live safely, participate meaningfully and pursue the goals that matter most to them.
Our experienced Senior Occupational Therapists provide comprehensive SDA Assessments that are:
  • Person-centred
  • Goal-focused
  • Neurodiversity-affirming
  • Evidence-informed
  • Individualised
  • Practical
  • Aligned with current Occupational Therapy practice
We proudly support participants across Perth, Mandurah, Rockingham, the Peel Region and wider Western Australia through home visits, community visits and telehealth where clinically appropriate.
Ready to Discuss Your Housing Needs?

If you, a family member or someone you support is exploring Specialist Disability Accommodation, our experienced Occupational Therapists are here to help.

We take the time to understand your goals, current living situation and future aspirations before preparing a detailed assessment and evidence-informed recommendations tailored to your individual circumstances.

To learn more about our Specialist Disability Accommodation Assessments or to discuss whether an SDA Assessment is right for you, contact Belong Health today.

Call 08 9586 3934, submit an enquiry through our website or speak with your Support Coordinator about arranging an Occupational Therapy SDA Assessment.
Related Occupational Therapy Assessments

Depending on your circumstances, your Occupational Therapist may also recommend:

Functional Capacity Assessments
Provides a comprehensive understanding of how disability affects everyday functioning across the NDIS functional domains.

Home Safety Assessments
Evaluates accessibility, safety and environmental barriers within your current home.

Supported Independent Living (SIL) Assessment
Assesses the level of daily support you require to live as independently as possible.

Assistive Technology Assessments
Determines whether specialised equipment may improve independence and participation.

Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Assessments
Explores your ability to complete everyday self-care and household tasks.

Seating and Wheelchair Assessments
Assesses posture, mobility and seating requirements for everyday function.

Pressure Care Assessments
Provides recommendations to reduce the risk of pressure injuries and improve comfort and positioning.

Falls Risk Assessments
Identifies factors contributing to falls and provides strategies to improve safety and confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Assessments

Understanding Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

What is Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)?
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is a type of housing funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for a relatively small group of participants who have extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. SDA funding helps pay for the specialised design and construction of the home rather than the daily support provided within it.

What is an SDA Assessment?
An SDA Assessment is a comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessment that evaluates whether a participant's disability-related needs may require specialised housing. The assessment explores how a participant's current home environment affects safety, independence, participation and quality of life.

What is the purpose of an SDA Assessment?
The purpose of an SDA Assessment is to provide evidence about how a participant's disability and home environment interact, and whether Specialist Disability Accommodation may better support their long-term functional needs.

Is an SDA Assessment the same as a Functional Capacity Assessment?
No.
A Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) provides a broad understanding of how disability affects everyday functioning.
An SDA Assessment specifically focuses on housing suitability, environmental barriers and whether specialised housing may be appropriate.

Is SDA the same as SIL?
No.
SDA funds the specialised housing.
Supported Independent Living (SIL) funds the daily support provided within that housing.
Many participants receive one without the other, while others receive both.

Can I receive SDA without SIL?
Yes.
Some participants require specialised housing but only minimal daily support.

Can I receive SIL without SDA?
Yes.
Many participants receive daily support through SIL while living in standard housing.

Can I receive both SDA and SIL?
Yes.
Some participants require both specialised housing and daily support. Each support is assessed separately and funding decisions are made by the NDIA.

Eligibility for SDA

Who may be eligible for SDA?
SDA is intended for a relatively small number of NDIS participants with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs.
Eligibility is determined by the NDIA based on current legislation, operational guidelines and supporting evidence.

Does having a disability automatically qualify me for SDA?
No.
Eligibility is based on how a participant's disability affects their functional needs and housing requirements, not simply on diagnosis.

What evidence is required for an SDA application?
​Evidence may include:
  • Occupational Therapy assessments
  • Functional Capacity Assessments
  • Medical reports
  • Specialist reports
  • Positive Behaviour Support reports
  • Information about the participant's current living environment
  • Details of environmental barriers
  • Assistive Technology requirements
The exact evidence required varies depending on the participant's circumstances.

Does the NDIA make the final decision?
Yes.
Occupational Therapists provide clinical evidence and recommendations, but the NDIA determines whether SDA funding is approved.

The SDA Assessment Process

What happens during an SDA Assessment?
​The assessment may include:
  • Interview
  • Functional assessment
  • Home assessment
  • Environmental assessment
  • Equipment review
  • Clinical reasoning
  • Preparation of a detailed report

How long does an SDA Assessment take?
The face-to-face assessment typically takes several hours depending on the participant's circumstances.
Additional time is required for reviewing information, analysing findings, developing clinical reasoning and preparing the report.

Where is the assessment completed?
Most SDA Assessments are completed in the participant's current home so the Occupational Therapist can accurately assess environmental barriers and everyday functioning.

Can my family attend the assessment?
Yes.
Parents, carers and family members often provide valuable information about daily routines, support needs and housing challenges.

Can my Support Coordinator attend?
Yes.
With your consent, Support Coordinators are welcome to participate in the assessment process.

Do I need to prepare for the assessment?
It may be helpful to have available:
  • Previous reports
  • Your NDIS plan
  • Information about equipment you use
  • Questions you would like answered
Your Occupational Therapist will advise if anything else is required.

The Four SDA Design Categories

What are the four SDA design categories?
The current SDA design categories are:
  • Improved Liveability
  • Fully Accessible
  • Robust
  • High Physical Support
Recommendations are based on individual functional needs rather than diagnosis.

What is Improved Liveability SDA?
Improved Liveability housing includes design features that improve accessibility for participants with sensory, intellectual or cognitive impairments.

What is Fully Accessible SDA?
Fully Accessible housing is designed for participants who require a high level of physical accessibility throughout their home.

What is Robust SDA?
Robust housing includes additional durability and safety features for participants whose disability-related needs require a more resilient living environment.

What is High Physical Support SDA?
High Physical Support housing is designed for participants with very high physical support needs and may include features such as ceiling hoist provision, emergency power systems and structural support for specialised equipment.

How does an Occupational Therapist determine the appropriate SDA design category?
The Occupational Therapist considers:
  • Functional capacity
  • Mobility
  • Environmental barriers
  • Assistive Technology
  • Daily living activities
  • Support requirements
  • Future needs
Recommendations are based on clinical assessment rather than diagnosis alone.

Occupational Therapy and SDA

Why does an Occupational Therapist complete an SDA Assessment?
Occupational Therapists specialise in understanding how disability, the environment and everyday activities interact.
This makes Occupational Therapists well placed to assess whether specialised housing may improve participation and independence.

What does an Occupational Therapist assess?
An Occupational Therapist may assess:
  • Functional capacity
  • Home accessibility
  • Personal care
  • Mobility
  • Transfers
  • Assistive Technology
  • Environmental barriers
  • Safety
  • Community participation
  • Future housing needs

Will the Occupational Therapist assess my current home?
Yes.
Assessing your current home helps identify environmental barriers that may affect safety, independence and participation.

Will the Occupational Therapist review my equipment?
Yes, where appropriate.
Equipment such as wheelchairs, hoists, pressure care equipment and other Assistive Technology may form an important part of the assessment.

Will future needs be considered?
Yes.
Occupational Therapists consider future planning where appropriate, particularly for progressive conditions or changing support needs.

Housing and Everyday Life

Why does housing matter?
The design of a home influences how people complete everyday activities such as:
  • Showering
  • Dressing
  • Cooking
  • Moving around the home
  • Sleeping
  • Receiving personal care
  • Using Assistive Technology
  • Participating in family life
The right environment may improve safety, independence and quality of life.

Can unsuitable housing affect independence?
Yes.
Environmental barriers may make everyday activities more difficult, require additional support or reduce opportunities for participation.

Can SDA improve quality of life?
Appropriate housing may improve safety, accessibility, independence and participation. Outcomes vary depending on each participant's individual circumstances.

Does SDA replace therapy?
No.
SDA provides specialised housing. Therapy continues to play an important role in supporting functional skills, independence and participation.

NDIS Questions

Does the NDIS fund SDA Assessments?
Where appropriate and where funding is available within a participant's plan, SDA Assessments may be funded through the NDIS.

Does the NDIS pay for SDA housing?
Where SDA funding is approved, the NDIS contributes to the specialised housing component. Participants generally contribute a reasonable rent contribution and applicable Commonwealth Rent Assistance in accordance with NDIS arrangements.

Can an SDA Assessment support an NDIS plan reassessment?
Yes.
An SDA Assessment may provide updated evidence about housing needs where a participant's circumstances have changed.

Can an SDA Assessment recommend Home Modifications instead of SDA?
Yes.
In some situations, home modifications may be a more appropriate recommendation than specialised housing.
Recommendations are based on individual needs.

Can an SDA Assessment recommend Assistive Technology?
Yes. Where equipment may improve safety or independence, the Occupational Therapist may recommend an Assistive Technology Assessment or specific equipment solutions.

Reports

What does the SDA report include?
Reports commonly include:
  • Participant background
  • Functional assessment
  • Home assessment
  • Environmental barriers
  • Clinical observations
  • Clinical reasoning
  • Future planning
  • Recommendations

How long does it take to receive the report?
Timeframes vary depending on the complexity of the assessment and current demand.
Your Occupational Therapist will discuss expected report timeframes with you.

Can I receive a copy of the report?
Yes. Participants generally receive a copy of their completed report.

Can my Support Coordinator receive a copy?
Yes, with your consent.

Practical Questions

Who can refer for an SDA Assessment?
Referrals may come from:
  • Participants
  • Parents
  • Carers
  • Support Coordinators
  • Specialist Support Coordinators
  • General Practitioners
  • Specialists
  • Hospitals
  • Allied health professionals

Do I need a GP referral?
Not usually.
However, some funding pathways or organisations may request one.

Do you provide home visits?
Yes. Belong Health provides home visits across Perth, Mandurah, Rockingham, the Peel Region and many regional areas of Western Australia.

Do you provide telehealth?
Some components of the assessment may be completed via telehealth where clinically appropriate, although a home visit is often recommended to assess environmental barriers.

How much does an SDA Assessment cost?
The cost depends on the complexity of the assessment, travel requirements and reporting needs.
Please contact our friendly team for an individualised quotation.

Why choose Belong Health for an SDA Assessment?
Belong Health provides comprehensive Occupational Therapy SDA Assessments completed by experienced Senior Occupational Therapists.
Our assessments are:
  • Person-centred
  • Neurodiversity-affirming
  • Evidence-informed
  • Goal-focused
  • Practical
  • Individualised
We work collaboratively with participants, families, Support Coordinators and other healthcare professionals to develop detailed reports that clearly explain housing needs and provide evidence-based recommendations tailored to each participant's circumstances.

Accessing our Perth services

​Referrals to Belong Health
We are Medicare and Private Health fund registered for Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology.

EPC/Team care arrangements/Chronic disease (CDM) or GP management plans and self-referrals are all acceptable.

WA NDIS Registered Provider  
Medicare
You can get a referral from your/your child’s GP for OT on a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan this gives you 5 sessions for OT per calendar year with a $53 rebate available on each session or a Helping Children with Autism/PDD/ or an eligible disability package (20 sessions between allied health professionals, as set up by a Paediatrician/Psychiatrist) which gives your child under 16 years a $75 rebate per session for the 20 sessions, you can use up to 10 sessions per Health Professional (up to 10 for OT) and you will need a separate referral letter from your child’s Paediatrician for each Allied Health Professional you are seeking services from. 
Private Health
Your Private Health fund may cover up to 75% of the cost of OT sessions if this is included in your cover, be sure to call them or check your policy for details.

No referral or self referral
You do not require a referral for accessing OT
NDIS Registered Provider
We are an NDIS Registered Provider
Whether you or your child have NDIS funding that is NDIS Managed, Third Party Plan Managed or you are Self-Managing your funds, you are able to use your funding to cover the full cost of therapy services plus travel costs. You will need provide us with your/your child’s NDIS number and plan details ahead of your first session. Once you have booked a session or contacted us, our team will be in touch to discuss our service agreement and provide you with our services price list. 

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Phone: 08 9586 3934

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