Your disability doesn’t have to limit you from engaging with life. Tap into the right support services and you can begin unlocking your potential.
You’re about to learn seven benefits to finding disability services that can help you.
Here we go:
1) They Can Help You Set and Reach Your Goals
Your journey with the NDIS starts with identifying your goals. It continues as you work with support services to achieve those goals.
How do you go about setting those goals? A good NDIS provider will guide you through setting SMART goals.
The benefits of goals go beyond your disability. Goals are targets for what you’d like to achieve in your life and how to go about those things.
2) They Can Help You with Everyday Activities
You can access services to get a support worker to help with what you need to take part in everyday life. Things like personal care, such as showering, toileting, making meals, and shopping.
Read more: How to Find a Disability Support Worker >>
3) They Can Help You Build Your Independence
One of the recurring themes in our blog is independence. Why? The primary goal of the NDIS is to equip you with the skills you need to live independently.
One of the basic human rights for people with disability is the ability to live the life you want. This includes choosing what kind of supports you’ll get from which provider.
4) They Can Help You Develop Your Skills
Disability support services provide help you learn how to do things, so in the future, you can do them on your own.
Examples include learning how to:
Plan your meals in advance and create a shopping list.
Get around on public transport.
Take part in community groups and make friends.
5) They Can Help You Have Better Health
Health can be in the body, mind, heart, and soul. Every fortnight, the SALT Foundation runs events teaching you how to be healthier.
6) They Can Help You Manage Your Money
Many people never learn skills for managing their money. And yet, managing your money is not that hard.
In The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clayson, we’re taught the first principle of managing your money: Pay yourself first.
For most people, budgeting doesn’t work (or does it?). Several money “gurus” don’t budget for that reason. But planning works.
Plan to remove emotion from how you manage your money, and automating as much as you can:
Bills.
Savings.
Investments.
7) They Can Be a Trusted Source of Information
A good support service provides you with timely, relevant, and current information.
On the SALT Foundation’s blog, we cover the following seven categories:
Health & Wellbeing
Above, we discussed why supporting people’s health and being is the most important thing we do at SALT. On our blog, we’ll regularly share tips for being the healthiest you can be.
Money & Business
Money has two elements: Income and wealth. Income is the money you earn, through either a job, business, or interest on assets. Wealth is the money you keep and convert into income-producing assets.
We teach people with disability and anyone in need how to increase their income.
One way is through information on how to find employment with a disability. We’ll also guide you through starting your own business. Specifically, we’ll encourage you to start a social enterprise. Social enterprises give back to the community as they earn their profits.
Understanding the NDIS
We aim to provide you with useful information to understand the NDIS and get the most out of your plan.
Success Stories
Each month, we’ll share a story of someone who has found success through the SALT Foundation.
Family & Carers
Family members and friends play a large role in caring for people with disability. Especially young people. We provide families and carers with advice on supporting someone with a disability.
Personal Development
Setting and achieving goals is the first thing, but there’s so much more. As you work on your goals, you’ll need to develop skills in many areas, including:
Building relationships.
Advocating for your needs and desires.
Gaining confidence.
Problem-solving.
Being courageous.
Practicing discipline.
NDIS Careers
We also write content for people working in the disability sector. People in roles like:
Support workers.
Support coordinators.
Psychosocial recovery coaches.
Local Area Coordinators.
Early Childhood Intervention Coordinators.
By addressing this topic, we’re able to equip professionals so they can best support you.
Conclusion: Get the Disability and Support Services You Need
Different providers offer different things. It’s up to you to choose the right provider for you.
Four of the seven reasons above are common to every provider:
Goal setting.
Support with everyday activities.
Building independence.
Developing skills.
The rest are unique to the SALT Foundation:
Better health.
Money management.
Trusted source of information.
What do you look for in your disability support services? Please comment and share.
Further reading:
What is NDIS Funding? The Ultimate Guide for People Who Want to Know >>
Daniel G. Taylor is a mental health speaker. Daniel teaches people affected by mental health personal development principles so they can reach their goals and achieve their potential. He lives with bipolar disorder and has developed a lot of tools and strategies for staying well long term. He’s the author of “Staying Sane: How to Master Bipolar Disorder for Life” and a contributor to “Mastering Bipolar Disorder: An Insider’s Guide to Managing Mood Swings and Finding Balance” edited by Kerrie Eyers & Gordon Parker (Allen & Unwin, 2010).