NDIS Goals for People with Intellectual Disability

Published at 25-03-2025 13:59:45

Tags: #ForParticipants

What are NDIS Goals?

Goals are not a new concept, but they play a vital role in the NDIS. NDIS goals specify what you want to achieve with the support you receive from the scheme, helping you access services and funding tailored to your needs. These goals help create a clear vision of what you want to work toward and focus on outcomes rather than the services themselves.

Understanding NDIS Goals

NDIS goals outline your personal aspirations and what you want to achieve with the help of NDIS funding. This is key because the funding you receive is allocated based on your goals. If a service or support aligns with one of your listed goals, it’s more likely to be covered by the NDIS. However, just having a goal doesn’t guarantee funding—your request must also meet the NDIS’s "reasonable and necessary" criteria.

Setting NDIS Goals for Intellectual Disability

When setting goals, it’s important to consider how your intellectual disability affects your day-to-day life and what supports you need to improve your independence or manage specific tasks. Goals can be broad or specific, depending on your needs, but they should focus on what you want to achieve and not just the services you want to access.

Examples of NDIS Goals for Intellectual Disability

Building Independence and Capacity

Building independence is often a primary goal for many people with intellectual disabilities. This might involve working with allied health professionals or receiving other capacity-building services. Some examples of goals related to independence and capacity building include:

• Increasing independence in personal care routines: "I would like to become more independent in my personal care, such as dressing and grooming."
• Learning to access public transport: "I want to learn how to use public transport to get to activities like the movies."
• Improving domestic skills: "I would like to improve my ability to maintain my home and complete household tasks."
• Enhancing health and well-being: "I want to engage in regular exercise to improve my health."

Accessing Support

Some goals may focus on accessing specific support services that help you manage daily activities. This could include support workers who help with tasks you find difficult or that can’t be done independently. Examples of these goals include:

• Maintaining my home: "I want help to keep my home clean and tidy by accessing a regular cleaning service."
• Attending community programs: "I want to participate in a local day program and community-based activities."
• Attending medical appointments: "I need assistance to attend medical appointments and do my grocery shopping."

Tips for Writing NDIS Goals

Broad vs. Specific Goals

It's often better to keep goals broad rather than too specific. Broad goals allow for flexibility, enabling you to explore a range of services that could help you achieve the same outcome. For example, instead of focusing solely on receiving occupational therapy, you could state a broader goal like improving daily living skills.

Outcome vs. Service-Focused Goals

Try to focus on the outcome you want to achieve, not just the service you think you need. For instance, instead of saying, "I want occupational therapy to improve my cooking skills," you could say, "I want to develop skills in meal preparation." This broader focus allows for more flexibility in choosing services that help you meet the goal.

Using SMART Goals

A great way to ensure your goals are clear and achievable is by using the SMART framework:

• Specific: Be clear about what you want to achieve.
• Measurable: Define how you will measure progress.
• Achievable: Make sure the goal is realistic and possible.
• Realistic: Align your goals with your abilities and needs.
• Timely: Set a time frame for achieving the goal.

Incorporating NDIS Language

Using NDIS-specific terms can help align your goals with funding requirements. Try to use language like:

• "Building independence"
• "Social participation"
• "Community integration"
• "Capacity building"
• "Reasonable and necessary"

Resources for Goal Writing

There are many resources available to help you set meaningful goals for your NDIS plan:

• Help Writing Goals for an NDIS Plan
• Tips for NDIS Goal Setting
• Creating Goals the NDIS Understands and Funds
• Setting NDIS Housing Goals
• Using NDIS Therapy Funding to Reach Your Goals

Need Help Achieving Your NDIS Goals?

If you need help connecting with the right services to reach your NDIS goals, Expath's Team can assist you. We’ll help you find the best providers to support you in achieving the goals set out in your NDIS plan.