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 NDIS SDA Design Standard has been challenging, but also rewarding to know that it will significantly raise the bar of accommodation designed for people with disabilities.

I would like to thank everyone who provided feedback during the consultation process. But in particular I would like to thank Toni McInnes and Alison McLeod from NDIA, Bruce Bromley and Eric Martin from my technical writing team, Stuart Christie and Alex Waldren from LHA, for being an integral part of this 10 month long journey with me to develop the very first NDIS Design Standard for SDA.

SDA Design Standard is available for download from the NDIS website.

The SDA Design Standard sets out the future requirements of well designed and built form of new SDA. The NDIA recognises that new build SDA projects will be underway during this time and acknowledgment of these is important, so as to not disrupt the increase to the supply of SDA.

The NDIS SDA implementation plan sets out the timing and requirements in the lead up to the Design Standard taking full effect.