NDIS Home Modifications for Invisible Disabilities

Of the 4.4 million Australians who live with disability, approximately 80% live with an invisible disability. This includes a range of physical, neurological, or mental conditions and illnesses with no obvious symptoms.

Just because they aren’t immediately visible however doesn’t mean that they don’t affect participants day-to-day lives. People living with an invisible disability also face barriers to their daily lives, affecting their ability to live and work. In many cases, people living with invisible disabilities and conditions will also require additional support. Today, we’ll be diving into the world of invisible disabilities, and how NDIS home modifications for invisible disabilities can change the game.

How does an invisible disability impact a person’s life? What does it mean to live with an invisible disability?

Just as with visible disabilities, invisible or hidden ones can present significant barriers to daily life, activities, and independence.

Some common symptoms can include:

• Physical discomfort
• Ongoing, chronic tiredness or pain
• Limited mobility
• Pain and flare-ups
• Mental fatigue
• Sensory overload
• Emotional and social effects

In practical terms, this can make daily life unpredictable. Fatigue and pain flare-ups can hit suddenly and without warning, causing abilities to fluctuate. This can also impact participants’ ability to work and maintain a social life, and can even get them labelled as “unreliable” if colleagues and friends don’t understand the condition.

This lack of understanding and awareness is a common experience when living with an invisible disability. The invisible nature of these conditions and illness can lead to misunderstandings, with many individuals with a hidden disability often not being believed by others about their disability.

This results in people with invisible or hidden disabilities not receiving appropriate support or accommodations, whether that’s NDIS home modifications or workplace supports.

Examples of invisible or hidden disability and how they affect daily life

• Chronic illness – this can cause ongoing fatigue and pain that impairs participant mobility and independence
• Sensory impairments – hearing and vision loss can create challenges navigating the world
• Neurological conditions – these can affect gait, balance, and mobility
• Traumatic brain injuries – mobility, and motor skills can all be impaired following a TBI
• Developmental disabilities – these can impact the development of physical abilities

Home modifications for invisible disabilities

In many cases, people living with invisible disability may require additional support to maintain their independence and wellbeing. In many cases, that can include NDIS home modifications.

As with any home modification project, the specifics will depend on the individual, their abilities, and their goals. NDIS home modifications for invisible disabilities can take on a wide range of forms.

Some examples however can include…

Home modifications for autism

Sensory processing issues can be a common experience for many people living with an invisible disability. Oversensitivity and sensory overload particular are common, especially among people with autism, though it can also occur alongside OCD.

In addition to funding aids like sunglasses and earmuffs, the NDIS may also provide funding for certain home modifications. This can include a range of lighting upgrades such as dimmable lights and automated blinds synced with sunlight sensors to provide relief at home for participants with a sensitivity to light.

NDIS fall prevention and reduction modifications

Invisible disabilities often come with a higher risk of slips and falls due to impaired balance, chronic fatigue, reduced senses, and more.

To support these participants, the NDIS may provide funding for home modifications that reduce the risk of a fall. Funding may also be provided for modifications that reduce the impact of a fall, or which support participants in recovering or reorienting themselves.

Click here to learn more about NDIS fall prevention strategies.

Home modifications for pain management

Certain invisible disabilities can restrict movement or cause chronic, ongoing pain that limits participants’ mobility and ability to move around the home freely. In these cases, participants with invisible conditions may require the use of mobility aids.

In other cases, they may require home modifications to maintain their mobility. The NDIS will often fund modifications to the home such as ramps for houses, chair lifts, handrails, and more to support participants living with invisible conditions in moving around the home without pain or tiredness.

Home modifications for fatigue and chronic exhaustion

Both physical and mental fatigue are both common types of invisible disability. Many home modification plans include modifications designed to reduce the amount of fatigue experienced by participants.

Modifications such as replacing overhead cupboards with pull-down shelving can reduce the amount of leaning down required. Automated doors can reduce the amount of physical effort needed to enter and leave rooms. These are just two examples of how home modifications can support participants who experience fatigue and exhaustion-related symptoms.

How to get home modification approval and funding for invisible disabilities

As with any home modification proposal, the key to getting approval for funding is a strong funding application that directly addresses the eligibility criteria.

This is especially important when applying for home modifications for invisible disabilities. While there are many barriers to NDIS home modification projects, people with hidden or invisible disabilities face some additional ones. Namely, their conditions aren’t always recognised by others, which can make it harder to access support and assistance.

Owing to their hidden nature, a detailed, comprehensive, and well-written report is essential to a successful application. In particular, home modification applications for invisible disabilities should put particular focus on…

• Outlining the participant’s abilities
• Highlighting how the specific modifications proposal directly addresses participant needs
• Demonstrate value-for-money and cost-efficiency compared to other alternatives and provide an itemised budget
• Providing evidence and best-practices to support the application (especially important for invisible disabilities)
• Directly address the “reasonable and necessary” approval criteria laid out in the NDIS Act

Click here to learn more about the NDIS “reasonable and necessary” approval criteria.

Need an NDIS builder in Melbourne?

The hidden nature of invisible disabilities can make applying for NDIS home modification funding more challenging. However, it’s not impossible, especially if you have the right builder providing advice and support throughout the process.

Our NDIS builders in Melbourne have extensive experience working on home modification projects for a wide range of conditions. This includes home modifications for invisible disabilities and hidden conditions.

Curious if portable wheelchair ramps are safe? Unsure about modifying an apartment? Need help securing the appropriate permits and approvals for NDIS home modifications? Our team is able to provide both participants and Occupational Therapists with home modification application support, leveraging prior experience as Allied Health providers to make the process as smooth as possible.

Get in contact with our team today on 1300 333 746, or by requesting a quote.