Not sure what to expect from your NDIS planning meeting? This article will help you understand what you need and how you can prepare in advance.
Generally, your planning meeting will be run by a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or an NDIA staff member. Keep in mind that a lot of questions about your current support services, daily living activities and your goals will be asked.
You’re welcome to bring whoever you like to the planning meeting, including a family member, friend, advocate or someone from a service provider. Ensure all parties involved have been informed before your meeting.
Once you have decided if someone will be joining you, start getting ready for your NDIS planning meeting by thinking carefully about how your funding can help you. The following questions will help you explore your goals, opportunities and priorities.
Ask yourself the right questions
These questions will help you understand your needs and communicate those to your local area coordinator. Every individual has different goals and expectations and these will help you define your basic requirements.
- What are some things that you like and are good at?
- What are some things that you need to stay safe and well?
- Are there any things that make you unhappy, anxious or stressed?
- Do you need any equipment, aids or consumables (e.g. bed protectors, incontinence pads)?
- Do you need assistance with transport or vehicle modifications?
- Are there any home modifications that you need?
- Are there any areas in your life where you feel unsafe or where you might need extra help?
- Do you already get help from a support person to participate in your daily activities?
- Who are your current service providers (e.g. speech therapists, occupational therapists, doctors, teachers)?
- Are there any changes you’d like to make to the type or amount of support you currently receive?
- What are your interests or the things you love doing?
- What currently works well and what doesn’t?
- Are there new things that you would like to try?
- What are your dreams and is there anything preventing you from having the life you want?
Putting together a note with all your answers to those questions, will leave you prepared to communicate exactly what you’re after.
Put together visuals to help understand your needs
Think about what your week usually looks like and the activities that you do each day and put them into a creative or visual.
For example, it can be helpful to create a timetable showing your weekly activities and appointments. Alongside your timetable, you may also take photos of your activities and equipment and bring them to the planning meeting. This helps your planner understand what your abilities are and what equipment, accommodation or help you need to take care of yourself or your home.
Get ALL the information you need
Besides the fact that you will be asked a lot of questions about yourself during the meeting, don’t forget that you also have the right to ask all the questions you may have about the process, funding or support services etc.
Put together a list of questions that help you establish exactly what is needed from you but also what you require from your NDIS planning meeting and the people involved.
Decide what’s right for you – face-to-face or a phone call?
Your planning meeting can be conducted over the phone or in person. If a phone call isn’t the best way for you to meet, you should ask for a face-to-face meeting. It’s important that the meeting makes you feel as comfortable as possible. So make sure you arrange whatever works best for you.
Decide on who will manage your funding
At your planning meeting, you’ll need to specify how your NDIS funds and supports will be managed. Make sure you establish this before your NDIS planning meeting. Funding can be managed by:
- you or your nominee (such as a parent or family member)
- a registered plan management provider, or
- the NDIA
If you feel like a lot of services and equipment are overwhelming and you need help to organise those, you might be able to get funding for a Support Coordinator to work with you.
Get help where needed
The NDIS application and planning process can feel overwhelming at times, so don’t be afraid to reach out for help. The Correlate Connections team in Campbelltown can help you along the journey, so you will know that you are heading in the right direction at all times. We will even come to your planning meeting and support you through that process too if that is something you feel would be helpful.
Contact us to receive more information about your NDIS planning process in Campbelltown.
Got questions? Feel free to give us a call anytime, we’re here to help.
Read more about the 6 Benefits of NDIS Support Coordination.
