Specialist disability accommodation: one participant’s story
Not sure how SDA housing works? Here’s everything you need to know!
By Tristram · Originally published 16 July 2021
Original article
Tristram is a sports-obsessed powerchair-user who has worked and volunteered in the disability field for most of his adult life, both as a public speaker and wheelchair sports administrator. He even dabbles in the occasional podcast.
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is a type of housing that helps NDIS participants move out of home and live as independently as possible. Cool, right? Definitely! But despite the game-changing impact it has on participants’ lives, there’s a lot of uncertainty around how it works and how you can apply for it.
I know how difficult SDA can be because I’ve just gone through the whole process. Thankfully, I made it through and now have my own SDA apartment. What I came to realise is simple: I wish I knew someone who had done it prior, so I could have absorbed some of their wisdom.
Given my SDA experience, I thought I’d share what I’ve learned. Consider this article a starter into the world of SDA housing under the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Let’s unravel some of the mystery, so you can determine if it’s the right option for you.
How does SDA housing work?
People often refer to SDA as the ‘bricks and mortar’ of the NDIS. This is because it’s an NDIS-funded support for a participant’s home – not the supports within the home. People often describe it as housing, but let’s think of it as long-term, accessible accommodation.
Specialist Disability Accommodation includes all the modifications or general upkeep needed for someone to live as independently as possible within the home. For instance, a powerchair user (like me!) might need an automated front door, height-adjustable benches, and more. The SDA funds these.
[Clickability update, October 2026: SDA is specialist housing funding, not a blanket entitlement to every modification or upkeep cost. Equipment, modifications and support services may involve distinct arrangements. Read current SDA guidance.]
What does Specialist Disability Accommodation not cover?
SDA won’t put money towards ownership or rent; a participant pays this out of their pocket. Look at it as the SDA paying for all the disability-specific requirements within the home, while participants pay for the everyday things like electricity, hot water, and internet.
[Clickability update, October 2026: Distinguish the provider’s SDA funding from the participant’s reasonable rent contribution and ordinary bills. Check the service or tenancy agreement and current maximum contribution. Read the NDIA’s explanation of rent and SDA payments.]
The truth is, many people aren’t eligible for SDA. The NDIA say it’s for those with ‘extreme functional impairment or very high support needs’. This means people are eligible only if they can’t receive enough help from their existing informal supports and no other housing options are easily accessible.
If you’re unsure if you meet the criteria, talk to your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or Support Coordinator, and see what SDA providers might be able to help. For me, as an NDIS participant, I was eligible, and SDA gave me an opportunity to achieve an NDIS goal: live more independently, in a place made accessible to my specific needs.
What's involved in the application process?
Applying for a positive SDA outcome can be a slow process, with a lot of research involved to get it over the line. This is why you’ll need the support of providers. Although cases can differ, the best way to explain it is to share the process I went through to get my SDA home.
Through a mutual friend and work, I discovered an SDA provider who was offering units near my work. I applied and received a conditional offer to live in one of the units. Of course, this offer was dependent on my getting a positive SDA outcome. And yep, this is where all the fun began! (Only slight sarcasm intended.)
How do you complete a housing application?
With my Support Coordinator and Occupational Therapist, I completed a Housing Application to prove that I was eligible for SDA. This Housing Application included evidence that no other house or unit was otherwise suitable for me, with my Support Coordinator spending hours trawling real estate sites with me.
My OT completed a functional assessment, demonstrating all the bits and pieces I could do independently in my home, and those things I couldn’t. It demonstrated my impairment and why that impairment made Specialist Disability Accommodation my only suitable option at this time.
The Support Coordinator and OT are the two big hitters when it comes to the Housing Application. As mine did, they spent enormous time researching what was available in market and painting a full and accurate picture of what my disability entails day to day.
However, this was also complemented by my SDA provider, who was regularly keeping me updated on the application process and any changes to my (hopefully) soon-to-be property.
How do you submit your SDA application?
My Housing Application was submitted to SDA through my NDIS Planner. The waiting game ensued, as the SDA Panel met to decide whether I met the criteria.
Unfortunately, I received the wrong outcome – instead of giving me my own unit, I was given a shared unit with two other participants. With the aid of my Support Coordinator and Planner, I reviewed the decision.
What do you do if your SDA application is unsuccessful?
Like NDIS Plan Reviews, reviewing an SDA outcome can be a daunting process. To achieve the outcome I wanted, my Planner contacted the SDA Panel (they’re uncontactable by participants like us!), with my Support Coordinator sourcing additional information from my SDA provider.
To be honest, I was never told why I got the wrong outcome, but after a frantic month, I received a positive one. That’s right, I had my very own place!
What's next?
I walked through the property with my OT and disability housing provider to check the place was accessible. We got a bathroom sink lowered, the shower altered, and soft-close taken off my draws (don’t laugh, my arms are too weak to open such magic draws!) and moved in not long after.
And now, I’m typing from my home office.
How do you get SDA housing like me?
Actively work with the SDA provider.
Do a simple search on Clickability.com.au or Google for SDA housing providers and find a property that you think might suit your needs. Contact the provider directly. They are the keepers of knowledge! Many host seminars explaining the process or can connect you with someone that can provide further support.
Lean on your Support Coordinator & Occupational Therapist.
To do your NDIS housing application, you will have to do a lot of research. This is where your Support Coordinator and Occupational Therapist can help. Talk with them and determine what supports you need and get the evidence to show why it’s necessary. Get your Support Coordinator to talk to real estate agents and scope out what’s available—and why they’re not suitable for you.
Don’t give up.
The process can be a long one. It’s important to use your team to keep pushing. If a decision doesn’t go your way, talk to your Support Coordinator to review the process – and ask the SDA – through your Planner – for feedback as to why you weren’t successful. I had to do this multiple times, but the fight is worth it. With a little help, you’ll be able to get your own home just like mine.
[Clickability update, October 2026: This is Tristram’s personal outcome, not a guarantee of an individual home or SDA eligibility. Ask for the reasons for a decision and the applicable decision-review route.]
Clickability editorial update: October 2026
How participants can use this story to ask better housing questions
Explain the access features and support you need, then ask how different home and living options address them. Check SDA eligibility separately from whether a property has a vacancy. A conditional offer from a provider is not NDIA funding approval.
Before agreeing, clarify rent, bills, service costs, accessibility features and who handles repairs. Current SDA guidance separates the dwelling from the support you receive within it.
Support an informed choice rather than copying another application
With permission, help record the person’s housing preferences and practical access needs. Ask for clear reasons when an option is unsuitable. Keep the participant involved in decisions about housemates, location and assistance; another person’s successful application is useful context, not a template that guarantees the same result.
Questions readers ask
Does a vacant SDA property establish my eligibility?
No. Eligibility and property availability are separate. Official guidance
Does SDA funding remove rent and everyday bills?
No. Participants have rent contributions and ordinary living costs to clarify. Official guidance
Find housing providers to discuss your accessibility needs
Describe the home and support you need through Clickability. Compare profiles and reviews, then ask about eligibility, accessibility, costs and current vacancies directly.
