Facts about the NDIS driving assessment

To first understand the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) which was introduced back in 2013, it is important to gain some context.

 

This would be a program that was crafted by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), a government department with the target to give those with disabilities the capacity to gain independence and assistance on the road.

 

What would be born out of the this process was the NDIS driving assessment, a process that would see individuals, with the aid of friends and/or family members, an attempt to pass a test that would be undertaken.

 

The services that the individual would be eligible for would be contingent on their particular circumstances, but would always strive towards the same objective.

 

So what should you know about the NDIS driving assessment before engaging with the program? We have examined several of the essential facts about the initiative to ensure that you are up to speed on the elements that make the assessment what it is today.

Individuals Need To Apply

 

Before a citizen can opt into an NDIS driving assessment, they must first undertake the application phase. Having made contact with the agency as a first port of call, the next step is to prove that the individual in question passes the basic requirements of the program. This will speak to the type of assessment that has to be engaged as well as the finances that will form the agreement upon completion. The initiative for each participant will be evident through a plan that will be signed and agreed upon by both parties.

Assesses On-Road and Off-Road Conditions

 

The NDIS driving assessment will be formulated by two key components – the on-road and off-road conditions in which the would-be driver will be challenged. They will be judged by their ability to drive safely in an environment that is designated by the driving instructor but agreed upon the participant.

 

A driver trained occupational therapist can also be involved in this process and depending upon the nature of the disability, there can be a dual control car involved. This occurs following an assessment off-road where the individual is examined for all potential ailments that could affect how they perform out on the open road.

 

The entire in-person assessment will take anywhere between 2-3 hours on average.

Various Options Available For The Participant

 

The NDIS driving assessment will allow the participant to opt for one plan that will suit their requirements. This will be broken down into one of three key categories:

 

  • Third party to manage the plan
  • An agency will manage the plan
  • The plan will be self-managed

 

The department official will judge the merits of the application to determine if the right choice has been selected. If this is the case once the test has been passed, then they will be able to progress to the next phase.

 

Post Assessment Is Necessary

 

The NDIS driving assessment will be concluded once the post phase has been conducted. Whether the participant has failed or passed the program, the results between them and the official will be discussed. This is an open and transparent stage where questions and queries should be asked to ensure that they understand what is expected from this part and beyond.

Summary

 

Like many other government-run programs, the NDIS driving assessment is designed to give those with the desire and capacity to drive safely an opportunity to do so. A disability should not signal an end to someone’s ability to be independent and travel on the road, yet it will take a comprehensive NDIS driving assessment to tell the individual and the government that they are in accord with all of the regulations that are in place.