Group Homes & Respite
Group Homes & Respite
UDS provides several properties in the Western Suburbs that are Special Disabilities Access (SDA) approved, offering Supported Independent Living (SIL), Short-Term Accommodation (STA) and Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA).
We also offer respite services. Respite will be a positive opportunity for you to learn new skills from our support workers, as well as develop your independent living skills in a safe, supportive and secure environment.
SDA
The Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Design Standard (PDF 8.39MB) outlines the detailed design requirements for newly built SDA seeking enrolment under the NDIS.
This standard has 4 categories of SDA design, as set out in the SDA Rules (2020):
- improved liveability
- robust
- fully accessible
- high physical support.
Improved liveability
Housing has been designed to improve ‘liveability’ by incorporating a reasonable level of physical access and enhanced provision for people with sensory, intellectual or cognitive impairment. The designed environment responds to the needs of participants through improved physical access and enhanced provision for participants with sensory, intellectual or cognitive impairment. For example, Improved Liveability dwellings should include one or more additional design features such as the below depending on the needs of the participants: luminance contrasts, improved wayfinding, and lines of sight.
Robust
Under SDA design category requirements, Robust housing is designed and built to be resilient and provide high physical access provisions. This is achieved by using products, materials and features that minimise risk to participants and the community and reduce the chance of reactive maintenance. To be classified as SDA Improved Liveability housing a dwelling must be designed to the NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation Design Standard category ‘Robust.’
The design must use resilient but inconspicuous materials to reduce the risk of injury, minimise neighbourhood disturbances and cope with heavy use. This includes secure windows, doors and external areas, high impact wall lining, fittings and fixtures such as blinds and door handles, soundproofing, and laminated glass.
Fully accessible
Under the SDA, Fully Accessible housing is designed to assist people with a significant physical impairment by providing a high level of physical access features. A person with significant physical impairment experiences an extreme or complete loss of the ability to perform one or more self-care or self-management functions. This can include mobility, eating, toileting or managing their behaviour. People with significant physical impairment can only perform the activity in a limited capacity, even with home modifications and assistive technology.
High physical support
Dwellings in the High Physical Support SDA design category include features that provide enhanced physical access provisions for people with a significant physical impairment who have very high support needs. A person with significant physical impairment experiences an extreme or complete loss of the ability to perform one or more self-care or self-management functions. This can include mobility, eating, toileting or managing their behaviour. People with very high support needs may be participants who have previously lived in SDA or similar accommodation for an extended time and now need additional support to transition to alternative living arrangements and services. They may also require access to constant or immediately available support services for a large part of the day.