Disability services glossary

Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a disability services & support organisation provider in Perth.

What are capacity building supports?: Capacity building supports are funded services that help people with disability build skills, confidence, and independence to engage in employment, education, or community participation.
What are core supports?: Core supports are flexible funding categories within disability support schemes that cover essential daily living costs, consumables, local transport, and social participation activities.
What are home modifications?: Home modifications are permanent or semi-permanent changes to a residence, such as ramps or bathroom alterations, designed to improve accessibility and safety for people with disabilities or mobility challenges.
What is a functional capacity assessment?: A functional capacity assessment is a standardized evaluation by a qualified allied health professional that measures a person's current ability to perform everyday activities and participate in work, education, or community life, typically used to inform NDIS planning or review decisions.
What is a Local Area Coordinator (LAC)?: A Local Area Coordinator is a government-funded role in Western Australia that helps people with disability connect to local support services, coordinate referrals, and navigate community and disability resources without charge.
What is a support coordinator?: A support coordinator assists NDIS participants in finding, organising, and connecting with disability services and support providers to help implement their funding plan.
What is agency-managed funding?: Agency-managed funding is support delivered through the NDIA, where funds are paid directly to registered providers via the myplace portal rather than held by the participant.
What is an NDIS plan review?: An NDIS plan review is a formal reassessment of a participant's needs and circumstances conducted by the National Disability Insurance Scheme to determine whether the current plan remains appropriate and what funding adjustments, if any, should be made.
What is an NDIS plan?: An NDIS plan is a formal agreement between a participant and the NDIA that specifies their funded supports, goals, and annual or multi-year budget allocation.
What is an NDIS registered provider?: An NDIS registered provider is a disability support organisation that meets the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission's registration standards and is authorised to deliver funded services to NDIS participants.
What is assistive technology (AT)?: Assistive technology (AT) refers to devices, equipment, or software that help people with disability or functional limitations perform daily activities more independently.
What is capital supports?: Capital supports are funding for purchasing assistive technology, home modifications, and specialist equipment that help people with disability maintain independence and participate in daily life.
What is individualised living options?: Individualised Living Options (ILO) are customised residential support arrangements designed around each person's individual needs, preferences, and goals, rather than the standardised group living model.
What is medium term accommodation (MTA)?: Medium term accommodation (MTA) is transitional housing support for people with disabilities staying between homes, typically lasting weeks to months and filling the gap between short-term and permanent long-term housing arrangements.
What is plan-managed funding?: Plan-managed funding is an NDIS arrangement where a plan manager pays service providers on the participant's behalf, allowing access to both registered and unregistered providers of the participant's choice.
What is reasonable and necessary supports?: Reasonable and necessary supports is the legal standard the NDIA applies to decide whether a support or service will be funded under the NDIS Act, based on whether it relates to the participant's disability, helps them achieve their goals, and represents value for money.
What is SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation)?: SDA is National Disability Insurance Scheme funded housing specifically designed for people with extreme functional impairment or high support needs, built to one of five design categories that match different levels of physical accessibility and support infrastructure.
What is self-managed funding?: Self-managed funding is a plan management option where NDIS participants directly control their funding, handle invoices, and pay providers without using a plan manager.
What is short term accommodation (STA)?: Short term accommodation is a temporary residential support, often called respite, where a person with disability stays away from their usual home for a short period funded under their NDIS core supports.
What is SIL (Supported Independent Living)?: Supported Independent Living (SIL) is disability funding that pays for care, support, and assistance in a home that the person rents or owns, separate from funding for the dwelling itself.
What is the difference between SIL and SDA?: SIL (Supported Independent Living) funds care and support services, while SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) funds the building and design of accessible housing. Both are NDIS funding streams that often work together.
What is the NDIA?: The NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) is the Australian government body responsible for administering the National Disability Insurance Scheme, including approving participant plans and distributing funding.
What is the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission?: An independent regulator that oversees the conduct of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers across Australia, handling complaints about service quality and conducting worker screening to protect participants.
What is the NDIS?: The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an Australian government program run by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) that provides funding to eligible people with permanent and significant disabilities to purchase support services and equipment tailored to their needs.