FEATURED ARTICLE
Home Automation and Assistive device requirements for SDA by Farah Madon ACAA Accredited Access Consultant and NDIS Accredited SDA Assessor Vista Access Architects Farah is the lead author of the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) Design Standard. Farah contributes on a number of Boards and Management Committees in relation to accessibility for people with disabilities including being a member of the Australian Standards ME-064 Committee, Community Representative member of Penrith City Council's Access Committee, member of the LHA’s (Livable Housing Australia's) Industry Reference Group, NSW representative on RAIA’s (Australian Institute of Architect's) National Access Work Group and Management Committee member of NSW Network of Access Consultants.
T
he SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) sets the minimum requirements for a dwelling to be eligible for SDA funding. The SDA funding is based on what is considered to be ‘reasonable and necessary’ in an SDA dwelling. Going beyond the minimum requirements for SDA DS would naturally mean a more appealing product for the participant thus giving the dwelling a commercial advantage over the dwellings that go for the bare minimum compliance. This article discusses what is required as a bare minimum for SDA certification where home automation products are concerned and some consideration where going above and beyond. The home automation requirements in the SDA DS are mainly applicable to the FA (Fully Accessible) and HPS (High Physical Support) design categories.
DOORS SDA DS (Design Standard) does not mandate the use of automated doors.
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THE MAGAZINE FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTANTS IN ACCESS AUSTRALIA
