The process of disability support under the NDIS comes with its own challenges. Two service areas which are often overlooked are Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). Despite the similarities in both services intended to enhance the lives of disabled persons their role and the assistance they provide are quite different. It is important for persons pursuing the right kind of help in an effort to promote their independence and quality of life to know these differences.

What is Supported Independent Living (SIL)?

SIL or Supported Independent Living is a service which assists on a daily living support for day-to-day tasks, including personal hygiene, food preparation, housekeeping, and socialization. It is aimed at those who have permanent disability with support and can live in dispersed or clustered units. SIL is about promoting independence, while assuring that the participants are enabled to control their daily activities as much as possible without assistance.

The SIL packages are dynamic in nature, hence able to meet each individual’s specific needs. A registered NDIS service provider based in Western Australia – Arise Services, these services are designed according to the abilities and the goals of the participant. Participants here can either be given twenty-four hour support or intermittent assistance as the case may be, with the aim of assisting them in gaining life skills over a period of time, with such assistance being termed as support independent living, SIL in short. 

What is Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)?

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), differs as it refers to housing with a specific purpose to house people with extreme or complex disabilities, ‘the built form’. Supporting Independent Living (SIL) stresses on most daily support, whereas SDA provision is primarily about ‘physical environment’ i.e. accessible housing to support independent living. These include alterations such as ramps and hoists as well as quieter and less crowded areas for the safety and comfort of occupants with high support level requirements.

SDA is suited to persons with considerable functional limitations, often necessitating specialized accommodation to assist with the management of mobility or behavioral issues. It is important to note however that SDA on its own does not provide personal care or supervision-DDS participants usually access SIL services in conjunction with SDA so as to meet both shelter and ADL support needs.

Key Differences Between SIL and SDA

When Do You Need SIL or SDA?

In the event that a person with a permanent disability with support needs in relation to everyday tasks, Supported Independent Living (SIL) is the ideal answer. Participants reap the benefits of nursing care while developing key life skills designed to increase their self-sufficiency.

Nonetheless, individuals having more profound disabilities that require a uniquely tailored space will probably take advantage of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) more than other groups. Many times these individuals find themselves in the middle ground where both SIL and SDA suit them the best—living in modified housing while being assisted in performing the day to day activities.

Finding the Right Support with Arise Services

The selection of SIL or SDA depends on the situation, purpose, and how much care is needed. Arise Services is a registered NDIS service provider in West Australia where people get assistance through specific programs crafted for them. They provide a combination of support regarding daily living support for day-to-day tasks  as well as accommodation for people with special needs.