Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA): What It Is & How to Access It
Hand in Hand Support Coordination • August 11, 2025
Home is more than just four walls. It’s safety, comfort, and the freedom to live life on your own terms. But for people with significant support needs, finding that kind of space isn’t always simple.
That’s where Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) can make a difference. For National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs, SDA offers a level of accessibility, safety, and independence that mainstream housing often can’t provide.
But what exactly is SDA? Who is eligible for it? And how does it work with other NDIS supports?
In this blog, we’ll break down what you need to know about SDA, including how to get started if you or your loved one is considering this type of housing.
What Is a Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)?
SDA refers to housing that has been specially designed or modified for people with significant physical, cognitive, or psychosocial disability. These properties are built to meet high accessibility standards and may include features such as wide doorways, ceiling hoists, assistive technology, reinforced walls, or smart-home systems, depending on the individual’s needs.
SDA is not about the supports you receive inside the home (like personal care or daily living assistance). Instead, it refers specifically to the bricks-and-mortar: the physical building itself.
The purpose of SDA is to support people who can't live safely or comfortably in standard housing, even with support. It enables greater independence, inclusion, and social and community participation, and is usually delivered in shared homes, villas, duplexes, or apartments in regular communities.
What Are the 4 Types of SDA?
The NDIS recognises four design categories of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), each representing a type of housing designed to meet specific accessibility and support needs:
Improved Liveability
For people with sensory, intellectual, or cognitive impairment. These homes include features like clear sight lines, luminance contrasts, and accessible fixtures to improve ease of navigation and safety.
Fully Accessible
For people with significant physical disability. These homes include features like wide doorways, step-free access, adjustable bench heights, and assistive technology compatibility.
High Physical Support
High physical support is for people with significant physical impairment who require specialised equipment or support, such as ceiling hoists, emergency power backups, or automated doors.
Robust
For people who may have behaviours of concern that put themselves or others at risk. These homes are built with durable materials, reinforced walls, secure windows, and spaces that minimise sensory triggers.
Who Is SDA For?
SDA is intended for a small percentage of NDIS participants (generally around 6%) whose needs are considered complex and require highly accessible or purpose-built housing.
To be eligible, participants must demonstrate:
- Extreme functional impairment, meaning they cannot perform daily tasks without a high level of support,
- Or very high support needs, such as requiring intensive behavioural support or 24/7 support across multiple areas of life,
- And that mainstream housing options would not adequately meet their needs, even with home modifications or assistive technology.
Eligibility is assessed by the NDIA, based on reports, assessments, and a formal SDA Housing Support Proposal.
What Is SDA Funding and How Does It Work?
SDA funding is part of the NDIS's Capital Supports category and is designed to cover the cost of the physical building, not the personal supports you receive inside the home. This means it’s separate from other funded supports like Supported Independent Living (SIL) or Individualised Living Options (ILO).
If you're approved for SDA funding, it will appear in your NDIS plan, specifying the type of SDA housing that suits your assessed needs. This includes the design category, location, and building type, such as an apartment, duplex, or house that meets specific accessibility standards.
The NDIS pays the SDA provider directly, so you’re not responsible for the capital or building costs. However, you may still be asked to contribute a regulated reasonable rent contribution, which is typically covered using your Disability Support Pension and Rent Assistance.
It's important to note that SDA funding does not cover personal care, support workers, or daily living assistance. These services must be funded separately, usually under your Core Supports or SIL line items.
Getting SDA funding approved can take time, as it requires strong supporting evidence and a formal Housing Support Proposal. Once approved, however, SDA funding opens the door to secure, accessible, and purpose-built SDA housing that aligns with your long-term goals.
How to Apply for SDA
Applying for SDA is not a quick or automatic process. It requires:
- A clear explanation of your housing goals
- Functional capacity assessments (e.g. occupational therapist reports)
- Evidence that less restrictive alternatives (like home modifications or assistive tech) are not suitable
- A formal Housing Support Proposal submitted to the NDIA
This proposal outlines your current living situation, your housing needs, and how SDA would improve your quality of life, safety, and independence.
What Is the Difference Between SIL and SDA Housing?
SIL (Supported Independent Living) and SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) often work together, but you should know that they’re not the same thing:
| Feature | SIL (Supported Independent Living) | SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) |
|---|---|---|
| What it funds | The support services you receive in your home (e.g. help with cooking, personal care, daily tasks) | The physical building or dwelling itself |
| Who it's for | People who need daily support to live independently | People with very high support needs or extreme functional impairment who require specially designed housing |
| How it’s funded | Through Core Supports in your NDIS plan | As a Capital Support in your NDIS plan |
| Can you have both? | Yes — they are often combined when a participant needs support and specialised housing | Yes — SDA homes usually have SIL providers delivering support onsite |
To sum it up: SIL is about the help you receive, and SDA is about the home you live in. They can be used together, but each has its own eligibility process and purpose.
Getting Support with SDA Coordination
End-to-End Support for SDA & SIL Coordination
Applying for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) or Supported Independent Living (SIL) can be complex. It often involves detailed reports, assessments from allied health professionals, and multiple stages of NDIA documentation. That’s where experienced, tailored support coordination can make all the difference.
At Hand in Hand Support Coordination, we work with NDIS participants across Melbourne to coordinate both SDA and SIL supports through our NDIS housing support services. We help you explore your options, understand your eligibility, and manage the entire process from start to finish.
Making Housing Plans Work in the Real World
Our dedicated team can assist you with:
- Gathering the right documentation and assessments for SDA and/or SIL
- Preparing and submitting Housing Support Proposals
- Identifying suitable housing and support providers
- Coordinating transition plans that meet your goals and daily needs
- Reviewing service agreements and ensuring your living arrangement is sustainable
We also help ensure that your SDA funding works seamlessly with your SIL supports, so your housing and daily assistance are fully aligned. Whether you’re moving into a purpose-built SDA home or organising 24/7 supports in a private residence, we focus on building safe, stable, and person-centred living arrangements.
For participants with behaviours of concern or complex environments, we bring a positive behaviour support-informed approach, adjusting environments, coordinating consistent teams, and promoting long-term SDA housing success.
We make your living arrangement not just functional, but truly empowering.
Takeaway
Specialist Disability Accommodation can be life-changing for the right participant — offering greater safety, comfort, and control over daily life. While the application process takes time and careful planning, the outcomes can open the door to a more independent and supported future.
Although SDA funding does not directly cover support like daily personal care or help around the home, it works alongside other funded services like SIL to create a complete, sustainable living arrangement.
When it comes to SDA or SIL, having the right support can make the path a lot clearer. At Hand in Hand Support Coordination, we’re here to help you understand your options, prepare your application, and coordinate every step of your disability housing journey.
Get a free consultation from us today and take the first step toward your ideal home.
We hope this blog was useful.
Hand in Hand Support Coordination specialises in personalised NDIS Support Coordination for participants with complex mental health and physical disabilities across Melbourne and Victoria, focusing on Level 2 and 3 support to create tailored support that aligns with goals and budget.
