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NDIS Nature-Based Therapy For Autism

Autism Respite Care Program

By Kate BrownellPublished 4 years ago 5 min read
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Since the later part of 2013, the National Disability Insurance Scheme Agency has been established and working toward the goal of providing access and funding to disabled persons so they may benefit from support services. In essence, the funding they provide, known as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), is a type of insurance coverage which gives a disabled person, who might not be otherwise able to access support service, to do so through their program. The types of disabilities in their coverage include physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, and psychosocial ones.

Below is a list of the categories of support the NDIS provides under their insurance funding.

  • Daily activities
  • Early childhood early intervention services
  • Workplace support to ensure the participant may be able to sustain an employment arrangement
  • Transportation to work, school, social and other relevant activities
  • Help with household tasks to ensure their domestic environment is maintained
  • Therapeutic supports such as behavior therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, autism respite, and eco-therapy
  • Assistance with set-up and maintenance of aids or equipment specially designed for disabilities
  • Modification, design, and construction of homes
  • Mobility equipment
  • Vehicle equipment

The NDIS funds Adventure Respite in its nature-based therapy. This means we are an approved NDIS early childhood early intervention partner. Due to this, if your loved one is already approved as a beneficiary on the NDIS program, they may be eligible to receive funded natural therapy from us. The eco-therapy activities we introduce our clients to are holistic and evidenced-based. There have been several proven benefits of eco-therapy done within an autism respite care program including stress reduction, reduced anxiety, recreational pleasure, sensory decompression, gross motor strengthening, increased fitness, and overall improved mental, emotional and physical health. The activities you can expect your child to take part in can vary from animal therapy, swimming, hiking and forest bathing, ziplining, horticulture therapy, camping, rock climbing, day trips around town, and educational tours.

While your child is engaged in these activities, parents will have time to engage in personal relaxation time, bonding with their partner, running daily errands or chores at homes such as cleaning, cooking, and other essential activities that may be challenging to complete while caring for their child. This is the basic purpose of autism respite programs. Adventure Respite wisely makes use of the time their NDIS therapy assistants spend with their clients’ children to implement continuous therapy which may positively and significantly impact the child in the long run.

For those who are hearing of the NDIS program for the first time and are not sure if you or a loved one may be eligible, please consider the following criteria:

· Age:

You must be under the age of 65 to access the scheme. For those under 7 years of age, assistance is still available.

·Citizenship:

You must live in Australia, be a resident, holder of an Australian Visa or Australian Special Category Visa in order to access the scheme.

·Abilities:

You must demonstrate that you need support because of a disability.

·Capacity of Abilities:

You may be asked to demonstrate your need for special equipment because of your disability. If this is not applicable to you, there still remains a chance you may still be able to access the scheme.

·Need for Support:

Of high importance to determine your eligibility for the scheme, you need to verify if you need support because of your disability. The concept behind the NDIS is to provide support for those in need because of a disability. If you do not need support as was listed above, this particular insurance scheme may not be ideal for you.

The therapeutic support you receive from the funding of the NDIS is also known as NDIS therapy. These may range from occupational, behavioral, speech, and language as well as sensory therapy. NDIS therapy can be a catalyst for a myriad of improvements in your child’s behavior and growth over time. Early intervention is key to rewiring the brain for change after an autism diagnosis. This is why it is crucial to apply for NDIS coverage as soon as a disability diagnosis is received. Beyond the disappointment and pain of knowing your loved one will have significant challenges for life, are resources and personnel ready and willing to work with you so the very best care and attention are provided to your loved one?

In recent times, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, and other intellectual and mental disabilities have been receiving significant attention worldwide. This is because the rights of those who are vulnerable are finally being recognized and prioritized globally. Support services for autism in Australia are currently partnering with the NDIS to ensure their services are being covered and accessible for all. Adventure Respite has already been approved, becoming a leading autism support service provider on the Gold Coast. Their respite offering ensures care for both autistic children and adults while simultaneously serving their parents or other significant caregivers. Their natural therapy model goes beyond the traditional routes of occupational, behavioral, and language therapy we often first seek out upon discovering our loved one has a challenge.

Natural therapy fills in the gaps that are very often overlooked by other therapies. It also reinforces skills learned in other therapies such as gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and vestibular balance for example. In addition, skills and attributes gained during eco-therapy can gradually become transferrable to other spheres of daily life and routine, making eco-therapy a great supplemental activity to go along with NDIS Occupational Therapy or NDIS behavioral therapy.

If you are looking for comprehensive support for your loved one who may be dealing with a disability, as well as reliable funding for a large portion of their lifetime, do consider applying for the NDIS insurance program. More information about their scheme may be accessed at https://www.ndis.gov.au/.

If you are already on the program, please be sure to include an Eco-therapy program such as the one offered by Adventure Respite to be a part of your child’s therapy plan as there are wonderful benefits for the whole family to enjoy through our care and service.

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About the Creator

Kate Brownell

Independent Teacher, Freelance Writer, Conservationist, Eco Friendly Environment Crusader. A life hack writer by choice. Published articles on Ezines and Lifehacker.

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