Are you getting ready to finish school? Thinking about TAFE, university or another course?
Learning goals can look different for everyone. For you, it might be completing your HSC, building confidence to study or preparing for work. If study is one of your goals, it can help to understand what support may be available through your NDIS Plan and what support usually comes from your education provider.
Study support can come from more than one place.
If you are studying, support may come from both the NDIS and the education system.
Your school, university, TAFE or training provider is generally responsible for teaching, learning and making education accessible. This includes the supports and adjustments that help you take part in your course on the same basis as other students.
The NDIS may also fund extra disability-related supports that help you access study.
An easy way to think about it is:
- Your education provider supports your learning. This may include teaching, coursework, assessment adjustments and other supports connected to education.
- The NDIS may support extra disability-related needs. This may include support to get to class, manage the day or access your course more easily.
Where this support may sit in your NDIS Plan.
If your NDIS Plan includes a goal related to study, training or work, some sty-related supports may appear under Improved Learning in older plans or Lifelong Learning in PACE plans.
This funding is generally for extra support linked to your disability that helps you work towards learning and employment goals.
That might include:
- Skills training
- Advice
- Assistance with arrangements
- Orientation.
Good to know. Depending on your plan, some skill-building supports may also sit in other parts of your funding. For example, public transport training or other independent life skill development from the Improved Daily Living Skills budget.
What your education provider usually helps with.
Your school, university, TAFE or training provider is usually responsible for supports connected to teaching and learning.
This may include:
- Teaching and learning assistance
- Curriculum or assessment adjustments
- Note-taking or captioning
- Modified learning materials
- Accessible classrooms and campus facilities
- Some assistive technology
- Inclusion supports such as Auslan interpreters.
What the NDIS may help with.
The NDIS may fund extra supports related to your disability, such as:
- Support when you move from school to further study, training or work
- Extra help during enrolment or orientation
- Personal care while you are studying
- Transport support if you are not able to travel independently because of your disability
- Therapy or specialist support related to your disability and day-to-day functioning.
What the NDIS usually does not fund.
The NDIS won’t usually fund the following study-related costs and supports:
- Course or tuition fees
- Textbooks
- Stationery
- Personal laptops or standard computers
- Tutoring
- Teachers’ aides
- Classroom supervision
- Other supports that are mainly part of teaching and learning.
Questions to help you prepare.
If study is one of your goals, it can help to think about the practical side of what you need.
What are you working towards? This could be finishing school, starting a course, building confidence for further study or preparing for work.
What support is already available through your education provider? Your school, university or TAFE may already provide some adjustments or learning supports.
What extra support do you need because of your disability? This can help you identify where NDIS-funded support may fit.
What would make study easier to access? This might include support with transport, personal care, routines, sensory needs or orientation.
Real-life goal examples.
When you are thinking about your own goals, it can help to keep them practical and specific. Here are some examples of real-life learning and study goals:
- I would like to be supported to complete my HSC
- I would like to be supported to develop strategies and techniques to cope with stressful situations so one day I will be able to successfully attend university
- To attend university and increase my ability to complete written assignments independently, using assistive technology such as voice-to-text software
- I want to improve my focus and participation in classroom activities at school, supported by an occupational therapist to develop sensory regulation strategies
- To finish a TAFE hospitality course, with support for navigating public transport to classes and managing sensory needs on campus.
Learning goals can support other goals too.
Study is not always only about getting a qualification. It can also be connected to confidence, independence, routine, travel skills and preparing for work.
For you, success might be finishing school. It might be starting a course. Or it might be building the skills and confidence you need before study feels possible.
We can help.
If studying is one of your goals, the Leap in! Crew can help you understand your NDIS Plan and prepare for conversations about support.
Call the Leap in! Crew on 1300 05 78 78, email [email protected] or chat with us online at www.leapin.com.au.
