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What is SDA? Specialist Disability Accommodation explained

By The Find My SDA Team · Updated 31 Jul 2026

Specialist Disability Accommodation, or SDA, is specially designed housing funded through the NDIS for a small number of participants with an extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. This guide explains what SDA is, who it is for, what the funding covers, and how to find an SDA home in South Australia.

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What SDA is

SDA is housing built to the NDIS SDA Design Standard for participants whose disability-related housing needs cannot be met through ordinary housing or home modifications alone. The homes include accessibility features such as step-free access, wider doorways and accessible bathrooms.

Depending on the design category, an SDA home may also include a ceiling hoist, assistive-technology readiness, stronger and more resilient materials, or provision for overnight on-site support.

Who SDA is for

SDA is not for everyone on the NDIS. It is funded for participants whose functional impairment is extreme, or whose support needs are very high, where a specially designed home genuinely makes a difference to how they live.

The NDIS assesses and decides SDA eligibility. If SDA is funded, it appears as its own line item in your NDIS plan.

What SDA funding pays for

SDA funding pays for the dwelling itself, the bricks and mortar of the specially designed home. Most residents also pay a reasonable rent contribution on top of their SDA funding.

The day-to-day support you receive in the home is funded separately, most often as Supported Independent Living (SIL). Keeping the two apart helps you understand exactly what SDA covers.

SDA and SIL are different things

SDA is the building. SIL is the support workers who help you live in it. A single home can involve both, and they are funded through different parts of your plan.

When you enquire about a home with Find My SDA, we can explain how the accommodation and any on-site support fit together for that particular property.

How to find your SDA home

The easiest way to start is to browse current SDA vacancies by suburb and by design category, then enquire on the homes that match your funding and support needs.

Find My SDA is a licensed real estate agency (RLA 344702) and a registered NDIS SDA provider, so you deal with one team from your first enquiry through to moving in.

Common questions

Is SDA the same as SIL?

No. SDA is the specially designed home. SIL is the day-to-day support you receive in it, funded separately in your NDIS plan.

Do I pay rent in an SDA home?

Most SDA residents pay a reasonable rent contribution in addition to their SDA funding. The exact amount depends on the home and your circumstances.

How many people live in an SDA home?

It varies. Some SDA homes are for a single resident, others are shared with one to four residents. Each vacancy listing shows the setup for that home.

More guides

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