Tip #36 Steps Towards Goals

Goals aren't straight lines. As you work toward something, things change along the way. This is really important to remember when you're working with the NDIS.

When setting goals for your NDIS plan, it's good to focus on where you want to end up, not exactly how you'll get there. Take making friends, for example. Your goal might be "I want to have friends I can chat with regularly." This tells us what you want without locking in exactly how it needs to happen.

The steps toward friendship might change over time. You might start by joining a community group, then find it's not quite right for you. Instead, you might connect better with people at a different activity. The goal stays the same, but your path changes.

When thinking about your goals, ask yourself: "Do I need NDIS funding for this?" For making friends, you might need funding for transport to social activities or support to build your social skills. Other parts of making friends might not need NDIS money at all.

Being clear about what you want makes it easier to figure out the steps to get there. This is where the Calendary helps. This A3 tool gives you space to write things like "Tuesday: Art class - talked to Sarah for 10 minutes" or "Set up coffee with John next week." You can see your progress and adjust your plans when needed. It's also a way of collecting evidence that you might need one day.

Remember, goals can change - and that's okay! The important thing is knowing where you want to go and tracking your journey along the way.