Advice Support Tool

Theme: Home Modifications

Sub-Theme(s): Kitchen and laundry modifications

References:

[include any relevant referenced documents]

• NDIS Act 2013 Section 34.1 (a) - (f) and 2.
• NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013
• Our Guidelines Home Modifications: https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/media/1690/download?attachment
• Home modifications guidance for builders and designers: https://www.ndis.gov.au/media/5101/download?attachment
• Minor home modifications budget levels: https://www.ndis.gov.au/media/5099/download?attachment
• Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Design Standard: https://www.ndis.gov.au/media/1868/download?attachment

Note:

All criteria need to be met for the supports to be funded through the NDIS.

Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports	Is criteria met?	Considerations (including evidence used)
34.1(a) Enabling the participant’s goals and objectives (supports will assist the participant to pursue the goals and objectives in their plan)	☑️ Yes	The participant may not have a specific goal outlining that kitchen or laundry modifications are required. However, consider how these supports may assist the participant to pursue stated plan goals.
34.1(b) Assist the participant’s social and economic participation (supports will assist the participant to undertake activities to facilitate their social and economic participation)	☑️ Yes	$47E(d) - certain operations of agencies consider integral impact of nutrition and clean clothes upon social and economic participation.
Kitchen modifications may be requested to enable a person to prepare meals for others, for example return to or maintain a role related to preparing family and friends meals for social events.

Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports	Is criteria met?	Considerations (including evidence used)
34.1(c) Value for money (supports represents value for money, ie the costs of support are reasonable, both in terms of the benefits achieved and the cost of alternative support)	☑️ Yes >	Kitchen and laundry modifications that meet the reasonable and necessary criteria can vary significantly. This is influenced by the participant’s disability and the degree to which they will be able to use the kitchen or laundry independently. The design of the existing space can influence extent of modifications needed. Refer to Guidance for builders and designers Section 10. Kitchen and laundry.

Modifications recommended should reflect the participant’s expected level of independence. For a participant who can prepare drinks and assemble snacks independently minor modifications and low cost AT supports are likely to meet the reasonable and necessary criteria. | | Are there comparable support options which would achieve the same outcome at a substantially lower cost? What alternative supports were considered? | | Upgrade and replacement of the entire kitchen, laundry and or appliances do not typically meet the reasonable and necessary criteria.

Has the assessor considered any likely changes such as growth or the impact of a progressive condition?

Alternative lower cost supports including re-organisation of the environment and AT should be considered instead of, or alongside modifications. E.g. minor re-organisation of existing spaces: place frequently accessed items on an existing accessible section of benchtop, use of capacity building supports to improve independence.

Low cost solutions laundry: Off the shelf stand for washing machine, clothes horse and changes to tapware.

Low cost solutions kitchen: accessible bench space with |

Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports

Is criteria met?

Considerations (including evidence used)

benchtop appliances (microwave, airfryer), use of a table as preparation space, tapware changes, pull out baskets, off the shelf cabinetry for accessible storage, perching stool.

Considerations: minor kitchen or laundry modifications:

Funding for minor modifications (under $20,000.00 with no building approvals required) is based on NDIS minor modification budget levels for participants living in Monash Model 2019 (MM) areas 1-5.

Considerations: extensive/complex kitchen or laundry modifications:

Is there evidence that alternative minor modifications or assistive technology are not viable?

Diagrams of the proposed modifications are expected to be completed by a complex home modifications assessor for all complex home modifications.

Major modifications which will not increase independence with the entire task will not meet the reasonable and necessary criteria if this duplicates other support (e.g. core)

For example, to complete laundry independently a participant may be required to open washing machine door, move clothes/items from hamper to machine, close door, operate controls (fine motor), lift wet items from machine into basket or dryer, and hang items to dry.

Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports

Is criteria met?

Considerations (including evidence used)

You should have clear functional assessment related to meal preparation outcomes outlining what specific tasks the participant will be able to complete in the modified kitchen. For example, if modifications include a side-opening oven, is there evidence the participant has the upper limb capacity to open/close the door, operate controls (fine motor, vision) don/doff oven mits, use upper limbs to lift hot trays/dishes from the oven onto an appropriate surface without spilling/dropping hot food, etc. The NDIS SDA design standard is commonly referenced and used as a template for private home kitchen modifications, however this design standard is likely to be above the standard level required for one participant living in their own home.

A single quote can be considered only if there is evidence no second builder is available in remote/very remote areas. Consider if all inclusions are related to the participant’s disability (Rule 5.1 and 5.2) below. For rental properties/when a person may consider moving: confirmation of the expected length of tenancy is needed.

Has the assessor clearly outlined the specific outcomes to be achieved/tasks to be undertaken once modifications are complete? This needs to consider the whole task, e.g., modifications to improve circulation space around a washing machine or |

Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports

Consider NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013 Part 3.2 and 3.3 What are the expected benefits of the support provision? How will effectiveness of achieved outcome be measured? When will effectiveness of achieved outcome be achieved? Are there other supports required to achieve or maximise the reported support outcomes for participant? oven will not improve outcomes if the participant still needs another person to physically unload the washing machine or oven. If it is proposed modifications will reduce the need for formal or formal support, has the assessor confirmed the specific reduction in support minutes/hours per day/week. This is needed to inform future planning decisions. Is there evidence that the modifications will be suitable long term and accommodate growth or anticipated changes in function or AT?

34.1(e) Support coordinates with but does not replace informal support (funding or provision of supports takes account of what it is reasonable to expect families, carers, informal networks and the community to provide)

Consider NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013 Part 3.4

Is criteria met? Consider who else may live with the participant and their role in meal preparation and completion of laundry tasks. Recommendations should take into account reasonable expectations of other household members e.g. a parent of a child is likely to be responsible for main meal preparation and laundry. A child is likely to be able to develop age appropriate skills and assist with modified tasks and access to an accessible table without the need for major modifications. When increasing accessible storage is proposed consider the role of informal supports. Another person occasionally assisting with retrieving infrequently used items from higher shelves is a reasonable expectation which may avoid the need for high-cost electric height adjustable cabinetry. s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies Consider homeowner/family expectations in relation to purchase of properties. The NDIS does not normally fund modifications that wouldn’t have been needed with appropriate site or home selection if the person has moved or built a

Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports

Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports	Is criteria met?	Considerations (including evidence used)
home after meeting access to the NDIS and then requires kitchen or bathroom modifications. Consider Our Guideline Home Modifications for further information. This needs to consider a participant’s individual circumstances and reasonable barriers to purchasing accessible properties (e.g. available housing stock, budget).

34.1(f) Support is most appropriately funded by the NDIS (supports are not more appropriately funded or provided through other general service systems or universal service obligations Consider NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013 Schedule 1.

Yes No >

redacted: s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies

If the property may be enrolled as Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

• | The SDA provider is responsible for ensuring properties are built to the relevant design requirements as outlined in the SDA Design Standard.

Support will not cause harm (Supports will not be funded if it is likely to cause harm to the participant or pose a risk to others, or the support would be contrary to a law of a jurisdiction) Consider NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013 Part 5.1 and 5.3 & Yes O No >

Have potential restrictive practices such as locked cupboards or taps been identified, considered and addressed by the assessor? Has the assessor identified and provided risk assessment information in relation to possible risks: burns and other injuries related to upper limb function, sensation, falls risk, cognition or low vision? Compliance with relevant legislation:

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Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports

Criteria for reasonable and necessary	Is criteria met?	Considerations (including evidence used)
the NDIS such as Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) funding.)
Consider NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013 Part 5.1

Version Control

Version #	Status	Date	Modified by	Brief Description of Modification
V1.0	Cleared	30/08/2023	GEP522	Production of initial V1.0
V1.0	Cleared	05/09/2023	JIF775	Transferred to Key Advisor Advice Resources repository

Note: Document uncontrolled in hard copy