What do SIL and SDA stand for?
SIL stands for supported independent living.
SDA stands for specialist disability accommodation.
Supported independent living (SIL) is NDIS support that helps people with disability to live more independently at home. It can include things like personal care and support with household chores. It can also support people to build confidence, learn new skills and access the community.
Specialist disability accommodation (SDA) is NDIS funding for housing for people who need to live in a specialised home with very high levels of support. This type of funding is only for the home itself.
What is the difference between SDA and SIL?
The main difference between SDA and SIL is that SDA is about where you live. SIL is about the support you need.
SIL is funding to support you to live as independently as possible. SDA is funding for housing to live in.
It is more common for the NDIS to fund SIL than to fund SDA. This is because you only need SDA if you need to live in a specialised home and you need very high levels of person-to-person support.
It is possible to receive both SDA funding and funding for SIL support from NDIS.
For example, a person might live in an SDA property and separately receive SIL support in the SDA home.
You can also have one without the other. For example, you might get SIL support in a regular rental home with no SDA funding. Or you might get funding for SDA housing but not need any SIL support.
SIL vs SDA – a handy table
This table shows you the main differences between supported independent living (SIL) and specialist disability accommodation (SDA).
|
SIL |
SDA |
| What does it stand for? |
Supported Independent Living |
Specialist Disability Accommodation |
| How is it defined by the NDIS? |
A type of NDIS home and living support. |
NDIS funding for housing. |
| What does it pay for? |
Pays for the support you need to live in a home and access the community. |
Pays for where you live – the physical home itself. |
| Is it about the actual house you live in? |
No. |
Yes. |
| How is it funded? |
Provided within the Home and Living support category of your NDIS plan. This may also be funded through Core Supports, depending on the circumstances. |
Funded as a separate capital-cost item in eligible participants’ NDIS plan. Can also be self-funded. |
| How common is it? |
More commonly funded by the NDIS. |
Less commonly funded by the NDIS. |
| What is approval based on? |
Based on support needs assessed during the NDIS planning process. |
Requires specific evidence and assessments to be approved. |
| Is it provided by Afford? |
Yes. |
Yes. |
What is supported independent living?
Supported independent living (SIL) is for people with disability who need support to live as independently as possible at home, and to access the community.
SIL is funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for eligible participants. It can also be self-funded.
The NDIS may include SIL in a person’s NDIS plan if they meet specific eligibility criteria and need a high level of support at home.
Supported independent living can help with daily life. It can also help people build confidence, learn new skills and access the community.
SIL supports can look different for each person. They are based on the person’s needs, goals, living arrangements and support requirements.
This support may be provided in shared accommodation, your own home or a different suitable living arrangement.
You might share support workers with housemates. You might also have individual support workers, depending on what you need.
What is specialist disability accommodation?
Specialist disability accommodation (SDA) is housing with features that meet your disability support needs.
Some of the features an Afford SDA home might include are:
- Button-operated doors
- Ceiling hoists
- Wheelchair-accessible kitchen sinks
- Wide doorways
You only need SDA if you need to live in a specialised home and you need very high levels of person-to-person support. SDA can look different for each person.
There are different types of SDA. SDA can be a house, an apartment, a villa, a duplex or a townhouse.
The NDIS thinks about what an SDA house needs to suit your disability needs.
It looks at four categories when it does this: improved liveability, fully accessible, robust, and high physical support.
How Afford can help with supported independent living
Depending on the support you need, Afford SIL supports may include things like:
- Personal care
- Personal hygiene
- Cooking meals
- Cleaning and laundry
- Daily tasks
- Building life skills
- Building social skills
- Medical appointments
- Community participation
- Community engagement
- Community access
We can work closely with you, your support coordinator and your circle of support to understand what you need at home. Contact our team for more information about supported independent living.
How Afford can help with specialist disability accommodation
Our SDA homes are all about supporting you to live safely and as independently as possible.
You only need SDA if you need to live in a specialised home and you need very high levels of person-to-person support.
We will chat with you about if SDA is right for you, and what you want from your SDA home. Then together we will find a home that feels just right for you.
Here are some of the things we will talk about together:
- What supports you need in your home
- What your unique situation and needs are
- If you need modifications
- Any reports and assessments you provide
- If you need significant person-to-person supports
- Other home and living options that might work for you
- What value for money looks like for you
Afford can work closely with you, your support coordinator and your circle of support to understand what you need in your SDA.
How much SDA costs depends on your NDIS funding and support needs. We will give you a personalised quote and make it easy to understand any out-of-pocket contributions and how to use your plan to cover costs. For more information about specialist disability accommodation, contact our team.
How Afford can help you with SDA vs SIL (and SIL vs SDA)
Afford is an experienced supported independent living and specialist disability accommodation provider.
We can help you understand what the difference between SIL and SDA is and work out which one of SIL vs SDA is right for you, or if both are right for you.
However you want to live, we will make sure you feel supported and have a home you can love. Contact us today.
