Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is a type of NDIS-funded housing designed for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. SDA funding pays for the physical building — not the day-to-day support services inside it.

SDA properties are purpose-built or significantly modified to include features like:

A small percentage of NDIS participants qualify for SDA. It is specifically for people with the most significant disability-related housing needs.

SDA properties are built to one of four design categories, each with different features and funding rates:

Improved Liveability — For people with sensory, cognitive, or intellectual impairments. Features better lighting, circulation space, and reduced navigation complexity.

Fully Accessible — For people with significant physical disability who use a wheelchair. Full wheelchair access throughout, adjustable benches, roll-under sinks, accessible bathroom, wider doorways.

Robust — For people with very high behavioural support needs. Reinforced walls and surfaces, secure design, impact-resistant fittings, separate spaces for support workers.

High Physical Support — The highest specification. For people with complex physical disability requiring ceiling hoists, electric door openers, emergency backup power, and technology to enable independent operation.

Your SDA funding will be specific to a design category. If your needs change, you may need to move to a different category — which requires a plan review.

SDA funding requires demonstrating extreme functional impairment and an urgent need for specialist housing. The NDIS eligibility criteria are strict.

Getting SDA in your plan almost always requires professional support from an OT and ideally a support coordinator with SDA experience. Do not attempt this without specialist help.

Getting SDA funding in your plan is a multi-step process that typically takes 6–18 months.

Step 1: Get an OT assessment — Engage an occupational therapist with experience in SDA. They will assess your functional capacity, your current housing situation, and write a recommendation. This report is the foundation of your SDA application.

Step 2: Build your evidence — Gather supporting evidence:

Step 3: Request SDA at your plan review — Submit your evidence to the NDIA before your plan review. Be explicit: you are requesting SDA be included in your plan, at a specific design category.

Step 4: Await the decision — The NDIA may approve SDA funding, reject it, or request more information. If rejected, you can request an internal review.

Step 5: Search for a property — Once you have SDA in your plan, you search for SDA properties that match your design category, location preferences, and support arrangements.

SDA and Supported Independent Living (SIL) are two separate NDIS funded supports that often go together — but are not the same thing.

Many people in SDA homes also have SIL funding — they need both the specialist housing AND the daily support services inside it. However, you can have SDA without SIL (if you need the building features but can manage daily tasks independently).

SIL can also be provided in non-SDA housing (e.g. a standard rental with support workers). SDA and SIL are independent funding decisions.

Finding the right SDA property can be challenging — demand exceeds supply in most states. Here is where to look:

SDA providers on SupportPath — Search for NDIS housing providers in your state. Filter by service type to find SDA registered providers who can tell you about available properties.

Summer Foundation — Australia's leading SDA advocacy and information organisation. Their website has a property finder and guides specifically for people seeking SDA.

Your support coordinator — An experienced support coordinator should know the SDA landscape in your area and can advocate for you with providers.

Housing providers directly — Contact SDA registered providers directly. Many have waitlists — get on them early, even while you're still getting SDA approved in your plan.