Analysis of the 2024 car parking requirements under SEPP Housing 2021 for Seniors and People with a disability. [Class 1 parking options as per SEPP Housing 2021 (2024 version)] Below is the link to a short video discussion by Farah Madon, Vista Acce...

Over the past 2 months, Farah Madon has been working on behalf of ACAA (Association of Consultants in Access Australia) with a small group of people including representatives from the building industry, design professionals, certifiers and accessibil...

Farah Madon awarded ACAA Fellow Membership Farah Madon was awarded ACAA (Association of Consultants in Access Australia) Fellow membership at the 2022 ACAA AGM for her significant contribution to ACAA and to the field of disability access. Farah has ...

Bite size technical article on AS1428.1-2021- Luminance contrast where one colour is known and you need to know what the contrasting colour needs to be, to comply with luminance contrast requirements for BCA/NCC or NDIS SDA (Specialist Disability Acc...

AS1428.1:2021- Bite size technical article 1 - Application of 1500mm clear width to Curved walkways and ramps AS1428.1:2021 (Desing for Access and Mobility) Clause 7.4(f) Curved walkways, ramps and landings The AS1428.1-2009 Clause 10.4 the foll...

An existing dwelling can be refurbished to qualify as a 'new build' for SDA (Specialist Disability Accomodation) funding. But have you considered the minimum refurbishment cost ? SDA Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2021-22 (previously the Price...

It is with great joy that we announce that Vista Access Architects are a finalist in the;  2021 Altitude Awards in the Excellence in Inclusion category                        ...

Master Builders QLD - Wide Bay Burnett Housing & Construction Awards 2021 It is with immense pleasure that we announce that the very first project certified by Vista Access Architects in QLD for SDA at both the Design and As-built stages, has won...

NDIS SDA Dwelling types One of the most common questions we get asked is how to determine the SDA dwelling type. This is not a straightforward answer as what the building industry may refer to as a House or a Group home or a Villa may not neatly...

The new NSW Housing SEPP will consolidate five existing housing-related NSW SEPPs: 1. State Environmental Planning Policy (Affordable Rental Housing) 2009 (ARHSEPP); 2. State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing for Seniors and People with a Disabi...

Event Details In this webinar, Farah will be introducing the updated version of AS1428.1:2021 which was released in June 2021. It is anticipated that the updated AS1428.1:2021 will be incorporated in the BCA/NCC 2022. Updates provide clarity to AS142...

Farah Madon of Vista Access Architects was invited to present a webinar on Universal Design and Housing options for People with a Disability in Australia at the 2021 Hong Kong Accessibility Webinar III. A link to the presentation is on https://f...

SDA Tools App has a set of calculators developed to assist with the design and assessment of dwellings developed under the NDIS SDA (National Disability Insurance Scheme - Specialist Disability Accommodation) The SDA Tools App has 3 Calculators. 1. N...

Vista Access Architects are delighted to announce the completion of our very first Final-as-built Certification for an SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) HPS (High Physical Support) home in Avenell Heights QLD for our Client Liveable Home...

The NDIS SDA Price Guide 2020-21 has an Appendix B for Annual Base Price per participant for New Builds, Appendix C for Annual Base Price per participant for Existing Stock and Appendix D for Annual Base Price per participant for Legacy Stock. Howeve...

The NDIS SDA Price Guide 2020-21 has an Appendix B for Annual Base Price per participant for New Builds, Appendix C for Annual Base Price per participant for Existing Stock and Appendix D for Annual Base Price per participant for Legacy Stock. Howeve...

Funding of the types of dwelling eligible for SDA funding are noted in NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) SDA Price Guide. Therefore, to seek SDA funding the SDA dwelling is required to fit into one of the below dwelling types. Types of fund...

Is your SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) Assessor a NDIS Accredited SDA Assessor? NDIS SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) Assessments and Certifications under the new NDIS SDA Design Standard can only be provided by an NDIS Accredited...

The SDA price for a particular dwelling depends on the location of the dwelling. To derive an SDA price limit for a particular dwelling, the Base Price (before the fire sprinkler allowance) is multiplied by the Location Factor relevant to the propert...

SDA Density Restrictions "How many SDA participants can be accommodated in a development and in particular in a multi-unit residential building?". This is a very common question that we are asked by SDA developers and the answer is not that straightf...

'LRV Contrast' App developed by Vista Access Architects and BEZAPPS for calculating LRV (Luminance Reflectance Value) Contrast has just been judged as a finalist in the 2019 Australian Access Awards for the Educational App of the year categ...

Today has been an absolute career highlight day with the launch of the NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Design Standard by the Hon Stuart Robert MP, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Being the lead author of the NDI...

Farah Madon was awarded the 2019 Access Inclusion Award for being the Access Consultant for a Specialist Disability Accomodation designed by Stanton Dhal Architects which demonstrated an outstanding level of Access and Inclusion.  The award was ...

Farah Madon was awarded the 2019 Penrith Citizen of the Year. Below are the details as presented by Penrith City Council. Mrs Farah Madon supports our local residents living with a disability and champions accessibility equality for all on a nat...

Vista Access Architects have just certified a new Changing Places facility at Westfield, Blacktown NSW. We can provide both; Pre-construction design assessment for the proposed internal layout and Certification services for your Changing Places ...

Vista Access Architects were interviewed for an article "Access All Areas" by Robyn Willis of the Home magazine of the Daily Telegraph. The aim of the article was to demonstrate that desiging for disability can deliver beautify spaces One of our...

Hearing Augmentation is required where an inbuilt amplification system is proposed in the following areas:  a Class 9b building like an assembly building or school; or in an auditorium, conference room, meeting room or room for judicatory purpos...

Vista Access Architects receives regular inquires as to requirements for Accessible Car parking spaces for Class 3 developments such as Hotels, Motels, Group homes, Hostels etc. The number of Accessible Car parking spaces for Class 3 developments dep...

Where Accessible toilets as required under the BCA (Building Code of Australia) do not meet the needs of all people with a disability, Changing Places facilities enable social inclusion for people with severe disabilities such as spinal injuries, spi...

This design was based on the requirements of Council and based on Lift and Change facilities. Vista Access Architects are also qualified to provide design and certification as per Changing places Australia Penrith City Council is a leader in promotin...

Luminance Contrast is the amount of light reflected from one surface as compared to the amount of light reflected from another surface. Australian / New Zealand Standard AS/NZ 1428.4.1-2009 requires Luminance contrast in a range of 30% to 60% based o...

Handrail cross-section for stairways and ramps are required to comply with AS1428.1-2009. The Diameters of handrails are to be between 30mm-50mm and located not less than 50mm from adjacent walls with no obstructions to top 270˚ arc. Most users prefe...

There are 2 types of parking spaces identified suitable for people with Disabilities by the Australian Standards. AS/NZS 2890.6-2009 (Parking facilities—Off-street parking for people with disabilities) identifies a space of length 5.4M with a width o...