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...

  SDA Project in Penrith NSW Client: Astina Group Access Consultant / SDA Assessor: Vista Access Architects Completion date: Jan 2021 Photo courtesy of Astina Group.  

SDA Project in Auburn, NSW for Client: Enliven Access Consultant / SDA Assessor: Vista Access Architects Completion date: December 2020 Photo courtesy Enliven

One of our pro-bono projects involved provision of access consulting services for a very long and complex wheelchair accessible pathway for children at Bear Cottage (An initiative of The Children's Hospital at Westmead) Bear Cottage is the only ...

Vista Access Architects were delighted to provided pro-bono access consulting services to NOVA EMPLOYMENT for their building at 103-105 Queen Street, St Marys NSW NOVA Employment is a Disability Employment Service and Registered NDIS Provider that as...

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...

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...

Farah was awarded the 2019 Access Inclusion Award for being the Access Consultant for a Specialist Disability Accomodation which demonstrated an outstanding level of Access and Inclusion. Photo of (from left) Farah Madon and Australian Disabilit...

'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 ...

'LRV Contrast' App developed by Farah Madon and BEZAPPS for calculating LRV Contrast has been judged as a Finalist in the 2019 Australian Access Awards for the Educational App of the Year category by the Australian Centre for Accessibility. Free down...

  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 o...

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 recently provided pro-bono Disabilty Access Consultancy services for Sunnyfield Disability Services.  Sunnyfield is a member based, registered not-for-profit charity. Guided by their values of respect, trust, honesty and ...

I was delighted to be a part of the Advisory team, providing pro-bono advice on the new "Everyone can play" the Guidelines for desiging inclusive playgrounds, an initiative of the NSW Government.  Every child, with or without a disability deserv...

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...

Vista Access Architects provided a pro-bono services for Bear Cottage which included a outdoor landscape design access audit through St. Patricks Estate designed by Marsden Architects. Bear Cottage is the only Children's hospice in NSW and is dedicat...

Farah Madon served as a Management Committee member of Penrith Disabilities Resource Center, joining PDRC as a management committee members in 2010 till 2019. PDRC is funded by the Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Human Services, (ADHC...

Farah Madon has served as a Community representative of Penrith City Council's Access Committee since 2010.  The Access Committee is a formal committee of Council which provides advice to Council about access issues and promotes the inclusion of...

Farah Madon has been a puppy raiser for Guide dogs NSW. At eight weeks of age, Guide Dog puppies are placed in the community with volunteer Puppy Raisers. These families or individuals ensure that the new recruits get the best possible care, in&...

Women’s Community Shelters works with communities to establish new shelters, which provide short term emergency accommodation and support in a safe environment that enables homeless women to rebuild self-esteem and achieve control and fulfilment of t...

Macarthur Diversity Services Initiative (MDSI) is a not for profit charity based in Campbelltown for over 30 years. MDSI primarily works with migrant and refugee communities in the outer South West of Sydney. As a charity they also work with the most...

Grace’s Place - An initiative of Homicide Victims Support Group (HVSG) will provide support in a safe place where children, teenagers and their families grieving the death of someone they love through homicide, can share their experiences, receive co...

Nepean Disability Organisation (NADO) is a community-based charity and a Community Housing provider that supports people with disabilities, their families and carers in Western Sydney, including the Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains, Penrith suburbs and sur...

Luke Priddis Foundation aims to improve the lives of children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders). They provide services to help kids with ASD learn vital skills like how to talk, read, write, draw, and even how to play with other children. These sk...

Farah Madon along with colleague Howard Moutrie were named Winners of the 2017 NSW Disability Access Inclusion Award in the category of Outdoor Public Domain Space.The award was presented by the NSW Government department of Family and Community Servi...

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; orin an auditorium, conference room, meeting room or room for judicatory purpose...

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...

This development is compliant with the requirements of AS4299- Adaptable Housing. This development also achieved Platinum level Certification from LHA (Livable Housing Australia) which is the highest rating that is available under the LHA Scheme. Cli...

As Access Consultants and LHA Assessors on the project, our focus was on access and inclusion of people with Disabilities. The development not only complies with the minimum Access requirements of the Building Code of Australia but goes above and bey...

This spectacular 55 storey tower symbolises the exhilarating rise and momentum of new Parramatta. The 5-star luxury hotel is designed in combination with studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom residences. It also features an open-air pool, a Spa Q, gourmet resta...

Special features of the house include the state of art amenities including ceiling hoist systems for bedrooms as well as bathroom and specialised bathing equipment. We assisted in certifying the project to Platinum level Certification from LHA (Livab...

This development was for a 5 bedroom group home with shared amenity facilities. As Access Consultants and LHA Assessors on the project, our focus was on access and inclusion of people with Disabilities. The development not only complies with the mini...

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...

Vista Access Architects provided pro-bono design services for a proposed Adult Change Facility for Touched by Olivia Foundation at Livvi's Place in Five Dock. Touched by Olivia Foundation is a wonderful initiative, bringing accessible play spaces for...