Penny
Types of Specialist Disability Accommodation.
Hello, in case you haven't watched the previous chapter, my name is Penny and I'm from the Housing Hub team here at the Summer Foundation. Otherwise, welcome back. This chapter is about Specialist Disability Accommodation design categories and building types. There are four types of buildings that can be new SDA. One, apartments, which can have one or two residents. Two, villa, duplexes, or townhouses, which can have one, two, or three residents. Three, a house for two or three residents. Four, a group home for four or five residents.
Alecia talked about the features of different types of buildings and the good or bad about each in the earlier chapter called Different Places You Could Live. In this chapter, we will discuss design categories. For SDA, there are five design categories. The design category guides the features the property should have.
The first design category is basic. This is only for existing housing. It is for participants who want to stay in their current SDA property. Basic category SDA won't be built in the future. The next design category is Improved Liveability. This is for people with a sensory, intellectual, or cognitive impairment. Features include being easy to enter and move around in with doorways and other features being easy to see. Good visibility from one room to the next. Easily adapted to suit individual needs. Meets Livable Housing Australia's silver standard.
This category is for people who don't really need any unique design features. People who won't have a significant mobility impairment and don't need strengthened features to keep them and others safe. You may need this category if you don't need a high level of special accessible building features, need some design features, need somewhere affordable where my supports can be close by or with me all the time. You'll see in this footage that the improved livability property is pretty much the same as any standard rental you'll find on the market, but it is built for people with sensory, intellectual, and cognitive impairment.
Robust design category is for people who act in a way that puts themselves or others or property at risk. They have complex behaviours or behaviours of concern. Features of robust design include enough space and safeguards for the needs of residents with complex behaviours to reduce the risk of residents hurting themselves or others. Secure windows and doors too and within all areas. Impact resistant walls, fittings, and fixtures. For example, blinds, doors, and handles. Enough soundproofing to minimise the amount of noise passing from one area to another. Laminated glass. Ways for staff and other residents to quickly get in and out of rooms or an extra breakout room to avoid getting hurt, if required. Meets Livable Housing Australia's silver standard.
This category is for people who need features that make the property more resilient to damage. It has features that keep them and others safe. You would need this category if your support needs mean that the design of the house is really important to keep you safe. You need to minimise property damage. You need to make sure support providers and workers can support you and be safe. There are not enough robust properties being built at the moment.
Fully Accessible design category is for people who have a significant physical impairment, such as wheelchair users. Features of a Fully Accessible design include no steps at external doors and external outdoor private areas. Bathroom vanity accessible in seated or standing position. Power supplied doors and windows to retrofit automation as necessary. The kitchen sink, cook top, meal preparation, bench area, and key appliances should be accessible in seated or standing position. This design category will meet Livable Housing Australia's platinum standard.
High Physical Support design category is for people with a significant physical impairment and who need a high level of support. As well as all the features in the fully accessible design category, High Physical Support designs include structural provision for a ceiling hoist, assistive technology ready, heating, cooling, and household communications technology. For example, video intercom systems appropriate for the needs of residents. Emergency power solutions to cater for a minimum two hour outage where the welfare of residents is at risk. 950 millimetres minimum clear opening with doors. This design category will meet Livable Housing Australia's platinum standard. You may meet this category if you use a mobility device such as a powered wheelchair and require more equipment like a ceiling hoist.
Now you can do activity six from the workbook called Specialist Housing Features that Support My Independence. When you have done this, join us for the next chapter about SDA eligibility.
Back to Chapter 6 – Types of Specialist Disability Accommodation