#7 Collect Your Evidence

When it comes to navigating the NDIS journey, having the right evidence can make all the difference. Your evidence is essentially your voice in the process - it tells your story and helps you ask for the support you truly need. Let's talk about how to collect evidence and why planning is so crucial.

Why Evidence Matters

Think of your NDIS planning meeting like telling an important story - your story. Without the right supporting details, parts of your story might get missed or misunderstood. Good evidence helps paint a complete picture of your day-to-day life, your challenges, and what supports would make a meaningful difference.

Planning Ahead: The Key to Success

One of the most important things to understand about NDIS evidence is that gathering it isn't something you can rush at the last minute. Planning gives you time to collect comprehensive evidence that truly reflects your needs and circumstances.

Start thinking about your evidence needs well before your planning meeting or review. This allows you to schedule necessary appointments, have meetings and discussions, gather supporting documentation, and ensure nothing important is overlooked.

What Evidence?

Medical Reports and Assessments

Start with recent reports from your healthcare providers. This might include your GP, specialists, therapists, or other health professionals who understand your condition and support needs.

Your Calendary

Consider keeping a Calendary as your number one tool to gather all the important stuff. Can be used as a sign in book for any service provider that comes to your home too. Unlike a simple diary, a Calendary helps you track patterns over time, showing how your support needs might fluctuate throughout days, weeks, or even seasons. Note the challenges you face, what tasks require assistance, and how your needs vary.

The Calendary is particularly powerful for showing evidence of inconsistent conditions or fluctuating support needs that might otherwise be difficult to explain in a single appointment.

Imagine having several years worth of the Calendary when anyone from the NDIS or even the Appeals Panel asks you a question about support. Having that history on hand gives a person confidence and evidence.

Support Letters

Letters from people who know you well can be incredibly valuable. This might include family members, carers, teachers, or employers who can provide insights into your support needs from their perspective.

Photos or Videos

Sometimes visual evidence can help explain situations that are difficult to put into words. With appropriate consent, photos or videos showing challenges you face or equipment you use can be helpful.

Previous Support Documentation

Include information about supports that have worked well for you in the past, whether through other programs or informal arrangements.

Tips for Stronger Evidence

• Be specific: Rather than saying "I need help around the house," specify exactly what tasks you need assistance with and why.
• Focus on function: Describe how your disability impacts what you can and cannot do, rather than just listing medical diagnoses.
• Think broadly: Consider all aspects of your life - home, community, work, education, and social connections.
• Stay current: Try to provide evidence that's recent (ideally less than 12 months old).

Collecting evidence takes time and effort but it's worth it. Having evidence you can take to meetings, put out on a table to discuss or email will be a huge help to you if you need to ask for something, justify why there is funding and even help if anyone issues you a debt notice. Don't wait until it is too late to realise you need to collect evidence along your NDIS journey. You never know when you'll need it!