Community Access

 

Depending on your situation you may travel by car, bus, bike, taxi…or even plane on occasion to access the community. You might also need a friend or aid to help you get out and connect. Aids could include mobility aids like wheelchairs or walking frames or a communication aid such as a tablet. You may already have these items or need to have them funded by the NDIS.

 

Community Access Plan

In your plan for accessing the community you should list both the people and aids you will need. This could include an occupational therapist who will help you apply for funds to purchase mobility aids or a support worker who will support you to attend some social and community events.

 

You may decide to pay for some supports yourself depending on your goals and budget. For example, if getting your drivers licence is one of your goals so you can access the community more, you may ask the NDIS to fund a car modification but choose to pay for driving lessons yourself. While In some circumstances the NDIS will help pay for driving lessons and car modifications, they will not buy the car. 

 

Some people with NDIS plans are eligible for transport funding in their plans. You can check the NDIS website to see if you're eligible.

 

State governments around Australia also have their own transport subsidy schemes. In SA this is the South Australian Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme. You can follow this link to learn more.

 

The NDIS Our Guidelines website has Guides to Understanding Supports which has The Social and Community Participation guide. These Guides may be help you to understand supports that will assist you to work towards your goals.”

 

Community and Belonging

To access the community you also need to have the confidence to do so. This usually comes from a place of self-acceptance and strength. Without it, connection can at times seem too hard, disappointing, or hurtful. This is because we may encounter people with a range of attitudes we have no control over.

 

‘True belonging doesn’t require us to change who we are. It requires us to be who we are because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world.’  - Bene Brown 

 

So, what does this quote mean….? It really shows us that belonging sits in each of us – rather than ‘out there’ - and that once you feel great about who you are, connecting with others becomes easier. Having trusted and familiar connections with family and friends that help you on your journey can also be a great help!

 

 

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