Has any one managed to make a successfull claim for NDIS to assist with funding for ADHD therepy sessions?
We are currently seeing a psychologist to help with emotional disregulation, whilst the psychologist would love to see us weekly, my bank account can only manage once a month, alongside paediatrician appoints every 3 months.
NDIS for ADHD therepy
NDIS for ADHD therepy
Posted in:
Mental Health, Behaviour, Money
10 Replies
NDIS doesn’t cover adhd at all
NDIS doesn't cover ADHD.
A friend did get her DS onto NDIS before diagnosis because he fit certain criteria. You could try by emphasising his emotional regulation rather than ADHD. Tbh I doubt it will work as they're tightening criteria & budgets but you can only try.
NDIS is a horrible process. 2 of my children have Aspergers. One also has ADHD, ODD,CD, complex childhood trauma, Anxiety and Depression while the other also has an eating disorder called ARFID. I’ve tried twice now filling in all forms as requested and each time forms and getting specialist to do their forms. Now they’ve requested (for the 3rd time) more information 🤦🏻♀️ Ultimately they want both children to have an ADOS assessment and one of them to have a cognitive assessment. Aspergers, while previously recognised under the ASD ‘umbrella’ it no longer is for NDIS and the children need reassessment for the Autism level (1,2 or 3). Autism 1 and 2 automatically quality for NDIS funding.
They (NDIS) keep telling me ‘can the child’s skills be built to manage help function as an adult’ and if not all answers need to be answered to why capacity building wouldn’t work.
As an example this is one thing they put in the letter for requesting more information for my eldest child:
Please provide details of all treatment(s) explored (including outcomes and effectiveness) and treatments yet to be explored for *childs* Chronic Depression and Generalised Anxiety Disorder. Are there any known, available and appropriate evidence-based treatments that would be likely to remedy and substantially relieve the impacts of the impairment? Have *childs* psychosocial and physical impairment(s) been fully treated and stabilised?
They seem to believe that in terms of ADHD this can be managed with medication and ongoing ‘capacity building’ leading them to function ‘normally’ as an adult
Your response is why I’ve never bothered trying to get NDIS funding for my son, who has a physical disability and hearing issues that he now has a hearing aid for. He’s able to do basically everything for himself, very occasionally needing support when doing fine motor activities as his issues are to do with his use of his right hand and wrist. He no longer sees speech pathology. He now only sees OT when he is reviewed by his orthopaedic surgeon and chest physios when he sees his respiratory specialist. It just seems to be a pointless waste of my time to try and get funding that is barely going to be touched anyway.
I’m not trying to discourage the OP just making it clear it’s a complex task and very time consuming and if you’re not already linked in with the right supports it’s actually an expensive process. To have a final year psychiatrist do the ADOS assessment is going to cost me $1000, where as a fully qualified one will cost me $2300 🥺 each time the support letters are filled out by a specialist costs me money too and I supply them with the information requested by the NDIS but it’s still ‘not enough’ information. And there is such a huge emphasis on what your child ‘can’t’ and ‘will never’ be able to do that required ongoing (for life) support.
As challenging as ADHD is as far as NDIS is concerned it’s ‘manageable’ with capacity building skills as ‘lots of people’ manage with it and lead ‘normal productive lives’. My child with ADHD (plus the rest of his diagnosis) has absolutely no emotional regulation, he gets upset he self harms, he breaks up with a girl, he self harms. We’ve had many involuntary mental health assessments due to it all and it’s still not enough to push him over then line for NDIS support. He’s been getting support, psychologist, social workers, OT, paediatricians (reports supplied) since he was 4 - STILL not enough. I regret starting the process and I hate it’s been forced on up to apply to ‘get the support he needs’ to help him the way he needs the help. And gosh don’t even get me started on my other child 🥺🥺🥺 she’s on a feeding tube for her eating disorder. She can’t manage her weight without the feeding tube. She’s been admitted to hospital multiple times due to weight lost with and without the feeding tube for the last 6 years- still not enough?!
OP do look into it especially if your child has other issues outside of just the ADHD, but know it’s a long hard and complex process that might cost more before reaching the end goal.
To the lady wth the son with a physical disability, my son does as well, I put application in, within a very short time frame, approved. Doesn’t mean you will be obviously, but please give it a go.
Physical disabilities are okay, it it cognitive/behavioural/mental health stuff they seem to have problems with. Kind of like a reflection of society, if it’s a disability people can’t see, it isn’t real.
The more help as a child could help when they grow up but it is an ongoing condition that you don't grow out of and it impacts your study and work and relationships. It is hard and draining and yes mediation helps but there are no ADHD therapists in Adelaide and I think Australia for adults. I don't understand how they can think that its manageable without the extra funding or help. Yes you can grow up to be successful but it is fucking hard.
This post is making me upset for my child and other ADHD children.
NDIS is so hard to get. 2 people can walk in woth identical issues and one will get cover and th other wont.
I would investigate the school and see if they have a school psychologist who is able to work with him as this could really help. Also look to your local community health centre and mental health plan to reduce costs. There are some great online resources as well and some books on helping parents of children with ADHD. I know some parents are also booking into dieticians for advice on diet to help. Occupational Therapists are also able to help with self-regulation as there are often sensory seeking things going on, I found a great one at the local community health centre at no cost and being referred through the school helped reduce wait time.
Not sure if you are using a mental health care plan but that is what I use and my daughter uses. I know with private psychologists you still end up paying, is it possible to go through the public system. Maybe put in a referral while you are seeing the private one in case of a lengthy wait period?
As an adult with ADHD and a mother of an undiagnosed ADHD child it makes me sad to see all the comments on here and fb saying that it is unlikely to get funding for ADHD alone. It's not fair. I'll have my fingers crossed that this changes either for you or for future children