Approximately 4.4 million Australians (nearly one in six) live with a disability. Yet, people with disabilities are often excluded from social relationships, community participation, leisure activities, and employment.
Inclusion and diversity are critical elements of community integration for people living with disabilities.
Here, we will look at community integration, its associated benefits, and what we can do to create a more welcoming participation in community activities for NDIS individuals.
What is community participation?
An active community participation project involves involving individuals in community projects and giving them a chance to participate in community participation that can improve their health and well-being.
NDIS community participation activities can be influenced by various factors such as religious obligation, social obligation, and the strong desire to remain in a particular group.
We believe that community involvement would allow people with disabilities to live independently and feel a sense of belonging in their present society.
How can NDIS community participation take place? Well, you don’t really have to develop a well-framed strategic plan. You can take the initiative by participating in various physical and mental activities such as swimming, horseback riding, cooking, shopping, and communication, where the members of the disability community improve their life skills and become prepared to re-integrate into society.
What are the types of social community participation?
People with disabilities are given assistance with social and community participation through the NDIS service providers who are eligible to provide the services under ‘Social and Community Services’ under the NDIS scheme.
NDIS social and community participation could include active participation in art class, vacation, learning a musical instrument, or gardening.
The innovative community participation allows you to meet people, have fun, and discover new things for you to get out and about!
Here are the types of community participation for NDIS individuals:
Innovative community participation:
A well-framed social and community participation NDIS program supporting NDIS participants to participate in their community activities.
Assistance with social and community participation for NDIS is given by skilled Community Engagement Practitioners who expand the opportunities for the individuals to participate in their community activities and find employment through side-by-side practice.
NDIS participants are engaged in a capacity-building, community-based approach by Community Engagement Practitioners. Thereafter, they are offered to work with them to increase their likelihood of long-term success in transitioning from informal employment to formal employment and support.
Social and community participation:
Under the Core supports category of the NDIS, Assistance with Social and Community Participation is present in the budget, which can be utilised by the NDIS individuals.
Community participation supports participation in community, social, and recreational activities.
NDIS increased social and community participation assists with Community, Economic, and Volunteer Participation, which now is under the official name of the support category.
Participation in economic, social, and community activities includes support for attending community-based events. Here community participation examples include communities, centres, or sports venues hosting fun-filled group bonding activities such as gardening or art making.
In what ways do the NDIS participate in the community integration program?
An individual’s interest and stage of life guide them through community integration. Apart from the interests, the support and services available to people with disabilities to integrate into the community should be fully understood by the service provider or their family members.
Having equal access to the following services is essential for the successful support of community participation and social inclusion:
- Healthcare and housing
- Education and peer support
- Employment, Recreation and leisure activities
- Citizens and NDIA engagement
Do NDIS participants qualify to participate in community activities?
Funding for social and community participation may be available to NDIS participants. Your NDIS plan includes this funding category under the ‘Core’ and ‘Capacity Building’ sections.
The funding supports participation in social, recreational or community activities.
How can the funds be used for NDIS social and community participation?
NDIS participants are eligible for this funding if they want to participate in support community participation and social inclusion.
Every NDIS participant’s plan goal must determine their support funds under their plan before taking up community participation support.
Existing community centres usually look into recreational matters by aligning with your NDIS service provider.
Likewise, social community support is also provided for activities conducted at standard centres or the community (for example, gardening groups).
The NDIS may fund support workers under Assistance with Social and Community Participation for the following purposes:
- Learn personal development skills
- Take a trip camping
- Take a trip to the library
- Visit a new place or go on a vacation
- Attend local events, or
- Take part in a sports club
- Become a member of a social group
What are the benefits of community participation?
In community participation, individuals are involved in health and well-being-related projects. Social skills are improved by participating in group or individual tasks.
Here are the top benefits of community participation for the NDIS:
Enhance the sense of belongingness:
A greater sense of community belongingness is felt by people with disabilities when they participate in community activities. Community involvement like planning, building, communicating, or competing helps these individuals develop a positive attitude.
Defends every stereotype:
People with disabilities hold the unfortunate reputation of being less capable than any ordinary individual. It is because of the existence of stereotypes believes.
Participating in community and social activities strengthens networks among individuals, which at fewer times breaks the chain of stereotypes that are actually untrue and have no existence.
Contributes to the improvement of social skills:
Individuals with disabilities benefit from community participation regarding their quality of life and social skills.
It facilitates community engagement and planning by allowing the family members or the NDIS service provider to plan and execute community projects.
Consequently, visible traces are identified through communication and relationship improvement activities.
Mental anxieties are reduced:
Mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and dementia are more likely to develop in people with disabilities because of social isolation and loneliness.
Community participation helps people with disabilities create a support network as a preventative measure for mental illness.
Encourage Independent living:
As a result of NDIS social and community participation, participants can interact with others without having to rely on any support providers.
There will be no need for your loved ones to rely on others for shopping, eating, commuting or socialising.
Beneficial to the whole community:
Participating in community projects and events is beneficial to the community at large and to others.
Increased participation in the employee workforce is achieved through the inclusion of people with disabilities in the work projects.
Support independent living:
People with disabilities are provided with an array of accommodations by providers that support disability day programs, enabling them to live a more independent lifestyle.
In this way, they can take control of their lives and their day-to-day activities.
The ability to move into their own space allows them more choices. They can actually think about what type of home care they are seeking, including personal care, overnight assistance, nursing care, and another additional support service.
The Community Access Program:
Practically community programs give people with disabilities an excellent opportunity to practice social life skills.
It is not uncommon for disability day programs to offer community access programs to individuals, allowing them to socialise and interact with people of various ages while gaining confidence to build their social circle through their improvised communication style.
The capacity development programs:
Learning a new skill can benefit regardless of age or ability. One can use it to express creatively or through self-improvement.
Music sessions, numeracy programs, and other recreational activities such as board games, group trips, and fitness classes are a few examples of capacity development programs.
In what areas is the community participation coverage not provided?
In terms of Social and Community Participation funding, it can be a little dicey.
Using your NDIS Plan to pay for some of the costs associated while participating in community and social activity may be possible only if it is a ‘reasonable and necessary cost related to your disability.
Your NDIS funding cannot be used to cover the cost of coaching, course fees, or class fees.
What are the strategies for NDIS community participation activities?
The NDIS covers a variety of supports.
All of them aim to increase social and economic inclusion and independence.
However, to integrate the NDIS participants, you must develop strategies for active community participation.
So here we share the top strategies for the NDIS community participation activities:
Rural and remote strategy:
Developed in 2016, the NDIA rural and remote strategies recognise the people with disability in remote and rural areas of Australia. The scheme aims to create qualitative participative plans and improve social and economic outcomes by filling in the supply gaps at the local level.
Participant employment strategy:
The strategy binds the vision, plan, and commitment for meaningful employment. The strategy straightens and expands the social networks and increases community connection allowing greater financial independence and ultimately improving well-being and health.
Assistive technology strategy:
The strategy empowers the participants with sustainable technology solutions. They have the choice to access and enhance their economic participation. This strategy allows users to be innovative, informed, and financially sound.
Residential aged care strategy:
It allows the NDIS participant to gain control and choice for the younger and senior residential aged care. It supports the NDIS participant under 65 years to reside in residential aged care with various home and living support options, connect the providers and support the right fund to the NDIS participants.
Cultural and linguistic strategy:
The strategy engages the individuals in community engagement. It also permits them to explore the increasing cultural competency.
Conclusion
Participation in community, social, and recreational activities is an important goal for NDIS participants. You can demonstrate your involvement in your community in many ways; however, by connecting with the NDIS service provider, you can get prompt access to the funding that further supports community participation.
You shall also gain access to the community and social activities under professional supervision. Therefore, while you integrate with the community, you also get core support from the NDIS service provider.
For NDIS support services, Advance Care is a registered NDIS provider in Australia.
Check the eligibility and other criteria of your NDIS plan if you are looking for assistance with social and community participation. Ensure you have confirmed accessibility options before commencing with your NDIS assistance with social and community involvement.
In case of any questions, please feel free to contact our team. We would be happy to answer them and provide more information about NDIS participation in social and community activities. Do contact us!
