Intellectual disability therapies and support that fit the person
NDIS support for people living with an intellectual disability.
What is Intellectual Disability?
Intellectual disability affects learning, reasoning and everyday skills. It often begins in childhood and ranges from mild to profound. The NDIS commonly funds long-term support for people with an intellectual disability across daily living, learning, social and accommodation needs.
Common challenges people may experience
- Learning new skills and understanding complex information
- Communicating wants and needs
- Managing money, shopping and appointments
- Living independently or semi-independently
- Building friendships and community connections
How the NDIS may support people with Intellectual Disability
Where intellectual disability causes significant, ongoing impact, the NDIS may fund a tailored mix of supports — including allied health therapies, support workers, support coordination, assistive technology and community participation. Every plan is different and built around the participant's goals. We can help you find providers once your plan is in place.
This page is general educational information only. It is not medical advice. Please speak with your GP or treating health professional for clinical guidance.
Intellectual disability therapies and supports
Intellectual disability therapies are usually about building and keeping everyday skills, rather than treating the disability itself. Speech pathology supports communication — spoken language, easy-read materials or communication devices. Occupational therapy focuses on daily living skills such as cooking, personal care, transport and managing a home, and can recommend equipment or home changes that make those tasks easier.
Psychology and counselling can help with anxiety, grief, relationships and life changes, and positive behaviour support works with the person and the people around them to understand distress and reduce restrictive practices. Alongside therapy, most people use practical supports: support workers for daily living and community access, supported independent living for those who need help at home, and support coordination to organise the whole mix.
The services below are the ones families and support coordinators most often ask us about. Which combination suits depends on the person's goals, age and plan — tell us what you are working on and we will suggest providers experienced in intellectual disability support in your area.
These are some of the services people often request. Tap any to learn more — or skip ahead and ask us to match you with the right providers.
NDIS Support Workers
Trained support workers for daily living, social activities and personal care.
NDIS Support Coordination
Help understanding and making the most of your NDIS plan.
NDIS Behaviour Support
Specialist practitioners support positive behaviour strategies.
NDIS Speech Therapy
Communication, swallowing and social skill support for children and adults.
NDIS Occupational Therapy
OTs help build skills for daily living, work, study and play.
Supported Independent Living (SIL)
Live independently with the right level of support, in shared or individual housing.
NDIS Social and Community Participation
Support to engage in social, recreational and community activities.
NDIS Plan Management
We manage invoices and budgets so you can focus on the support.
NDIS Physiotherapy
Movement, strength, mobility and rehabilitation support.
NDIS Exercise Physiology
Tailored exercise programs to improve strength, fitness and function.
NDIS Psychology
Mental health and wellbeing support from registered psychologists.
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Purpose-built accessible housing for participants with extreme functional impairment.
How My Care Link Australia can help
We're a free concierge service — not a directory. Tell us about the person, their location and what kind of support they need. We then match you with trusted NDIS and aged care providers across Australia.
You don't have to call ten providers. Sarah and the team do the legwork, check availability, and connect you with the ones most likely to be a good fit.
Common questions about Intellectual Disability
What NDIS supports are common for intellectual disability?
Support workers, supported independent living (SIL), behaviour support, speech and occupational therapy, plus community participation are some of the most commonly used supports.
Can adults transition to SIL or independent living?
Yes. Many adults with an intellectual disability live in SIL, with family, or in independent settings with drop-in support. We can help find providers in your area.
Related conditions
Request help finding an Intellectual Disability provider
Tell us a little about what you need. We'll come back within 24 hours.
Tell us what you need
We'll use this information to connect you with suitable providers.
Sources and further reading
Rules, funding amounts and wait times change. We check these primary sources when we update this page, and you should confirm current details directly with them.
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)(opens in a new tab) — National Disability Insurance Agency. Official scheme information, eligibility and current processes.
- How to apply for the NDIS(opens in a new tab) — National Disability Insurance Agency. Current access request steps and forms.
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission(opens in a new tab) — NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Provider registration, practice standards and complaints.
- Carer Gateway(opens in a new tab) — Australian Government. Support, counselling and respite for unpaid carers.
- Services Australia — Disability Support Pension(opens in a new tab) — Services Australia. Income support eligibility and claim process.