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If an individual or their loved one relies on the NDIS, then they know that funding alone isn’t enough. Real support goes beyond the finances and that’s where behavioural support comes into the picture.
Behaviour support is way more than managing difficult behaviours. It opens doors to a better quality of life. It also helps people feel included in their communities and live independently.
There’s no question about behavioural support being an important part of NDIS. However, it makes one wonder what the connection between them is.
Understanding Behavioural Support
One has to know what behavioural support is if they want to understand it. It’s all about figuring out why challenging behaviours happen and finding a way to improve everyday life. Behavioural support entails knowing what the triggers are and creating strategies that will help.
The individual can get professional support through the NDIS. This will help them work through these challenges. But what are these challenges?
The Common Behavioural Challenges Disabled People Face
Everyone faces challenges of some sort. However, it’s more complex with people living with disabilities. Some of these challenging behaviours include:
- Difficulties in communicating their needs, desires or discomfort
- Aggressive behaviours – physical violence, verbal outbursts, or self-harm
- Mood swings, distress, anxiety, and unpredictable responses
- Destructive behaviours – arson or damaging properties.
These challenges range from mild to extreme. Individuals without the right support will struggle with their relationships, wellbeing, and autonomy. It’s painfully obvious why early intervention and structured behavioural support are so important.
A Personal Approach to Behavioural Support
No two individuals are the same even if they have similar disabilities. That’s why adjusting behavioural support to the needs of each person remains the best approach. It has to align with their strengths, goals, and preferences.
Adopting a personal approach doesn’t just address behavioural challenges. It improves the individual’s quality of life. Most importantly, it helps them develop strong relationships.
A Quick Look at the NDIS
NDIS means Nationality Disability Insurance Scheme in full. It isn’t just a funding program, but a lifeline to thousands of Australians. It provides personalised support that helps disabled people live on their own terms. It connects them with essential services and helps them achieve their goals. NDIS covers many areas including behavioural support. But how does the scheme work?
How the NDIS Helps Australians with Disabilities
The NDIS gives affected individuals more choice and control over their support. It helps by financing support services for what they need. This could be mobility, communication, social skills, or mental health. NDIS links these individuals directly to therapists, specialists, and community resources. This ensures everyone gets the right support.
Who is Eligible For NDIS?
One has to tick the following boxes to be a beneficiary of NDIS. They should:
- Be below the age of 65 at the time of application
- Have a permanent and significant disability that affects their daily lives
- Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a Protected Special Category Visa.
What Support Services Does the NDIS Provide?
NDIS covers a range of essential services. Medical supports include therapies and interventions. Practical assistance comes through technology aids, personal care, and daily living support. There’s also specialized behavioral support.
Why the NDIS Includes Behavioural Support for People With Disabilities
- Behavioral support helps people develop self-regulation and daily living skills. These skills lead to greater independence
- It improves their communication and social interaction skills
- This approach identifies specific triggers. It then creates practical strategies to manage challenging behaviors and reduce distress.
- It focuses on long-term wellness instead of short-term fixes. This is more effective in improving the quality of life
- It encourages a positive and ethical approach to managing behaviours.
In summary, the NDIS doesn’t just fund behavioural support for individuals to receive care. They make sure they gain the tools to live well.
How the NDIS Supports Behavioural Needs
NDIS have approved specialists that play a key role in delivering behavioural support. They:
- Identify triggers, strengths, and areas for improvement
- Create personalised strategies based on their assessment results and proven techniques
- Equip loved ones with skills or tools to offer consistent support
- Regularly review and adjust strategies to make sure there’s ongoing improvement
- Reduce restrictive practices and prioritise the individual’s safety and dignity.
How to Create a Behaviour Support Plan (BSP)
A Behaviour Support Plan helps disabled individuals manage their challenging behaviours. At the same time, it improves their independent living and wellbeing. Professionals under the NDIS develop BSPs for each individual through this process:
Step 1: Understand the Individual
First of all, they try to identify the person’s triggers, underlying needs, and behaviours. That’s because these challenges don’t happen in isolation. They’re often responses to frustration, anxiety, sensory sensitivities, or difficulties in communication.
The professionals look at:
- When and why such behaviours occur
- What causes stress or distress for the individual
- The skills or coping mechanisms that the person already has
Past experiences also shape current behaviours. Trauma or inconsistent support, for instance, are negative reinforcements for challenging behaviours. Professionals have to assess past interventions and current difficulties. This will help them design a plan with long-term solutions.
Step 2: Develop a Plan That Works
The professionals will set clear, achievable goals. Then, they will choose strategies that will encourage positive behaviours. To come up with a plan that works, it should:
- Identify specific and measurable outcomes like improving communication or reducing anxiety-driven behaviours
- Use evidence-based techniques such as emotional regulation tools, structured routines, and reinforcement strategies
- Suit the individual’s goals, strengths, and preferences.
Step 3: Executing the Plan
A Behaviour Support Plan is only as effective as its execution. To make sure the plan is executed consistently, it will involve working with caregivers, therapists, and family members. In other words, everyone needs to understand their role and apply the strategies.
The day-to-day support should include:
- Using social stories or visual schedules to assist with routines
- Teaching alternative methods of communication such a sign language
- Encouraging self-regulation techniques such as breathing exercises or the use of sensory tools.
Behaviour support will easily become a part of the individual’s everyday interactions
Step 4: Reviewing and Adjusting the Plan
Behavioural support isn’t static – it changes over time and this must apply to the plan as well. This will make it easy to track the individual’s progress and make sure the strategies remain effective.
Here are the key aspects of an ongoing plan review:
- Observing improvements and setbacks in the individual’s behaviours. Then, they will note what they’ve seen and make the necessary adjustments
- Getting feedback from therapists, caregivers, and teachers to refine the approach
- Introducing new goals and support methods to encourage further improvement
The plan has to be continuously reviewed and adjusted. This will make sure individual receives support that grows with them.
Understanding Restrictive Practices in Behavioural Support
Restrictive practices are actions that limit the individual’s rights, freedom, or movement. They are used when the person poses a risk to either themselves or someone else.
Common examples of restrictive practices include:
- Physical restraint – holding the person or restricting their movement
- Chemical restraint – using a sedative to keep the person still
- Environmental restraint – Prohibiting access to certain places or facilities
To be honest, restrictive practices seem unnecessary sometimes. They can have a negative psychological effect when overused or misused. This is where the NDIS come in – to promote positive behaviour support. It does this by focusing on proactive measures that reduces the need for these interventions.
NDIS Rules to Maintain the Safety and Dignity of Its Beneficiaries
NDIS has certain guidelines on restrictive practices to protect individuals including:
- Restrictive practices should only be used when all other options fail
- The intervention should be the mildest one possible
- The families, guardians, and when possible, the individuals, must consent before a decision is made
- The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission should be involved. They must review plans that includes restrictive practices
- The support strategies must prioritise skill-building, long-term improvements in behaviour, and independence.
Why It’s Important to Reduce Restrictive Practices
- It protects human rights. Every individual deserves respect, autonomy, and dignity.
- It encourages long-term solutions and leads to sustainable progress
- It reduces emotional and psychological harm
- It’s easier to build stronger relationships when individuals feel safe and supported
- It’s line with best practices and global disability standards.
The Road Ahead: What’s Next for Behavioural Support in NDIS?
The future of behavioural support in the NDIS involves several key developments. One might either witness a significant reduction or elimination of restrictive practices through Positive Behaviour Support. It’s expected that NDIS will focus more on proactive strategies that will get the job done.
Although there are so many upsides for behaviour support, there are some areas that need improvement.
What Needs to Improve For Better Support Services
The NDIS needs to do the following to make behaviour support more effective:
- Reduce wait times for professional assessments
- Equip families with better tools to manage challenging behaviours
- Make sure individuals understand and have full access to their entitlements.
By doing these, NDIS can create a system system where behaviour support lead to lasting independence, dignity, and quality of life.