NDIS Supports for Multiple Sclerosis

Yes — Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an eligible disability under the NDIS. However, because MS is progressive and episodic, accessing the NDIS and getting the right level of support requires some planning.

To access the NDIS with MS, you need to demonstrate that your MS has a substantial and permanent functional impact. This doesn't mean your condition has to be at its worst — it means the impact on your daily functioning needs to be documented by your neurologist and allied health team.

Common NDIS-funded supports for MS include:

Physiotherapy — fatigue management, mobility, strength, and fall prevention

Occupational therapy — daily living skills, energy conservation, home modifications, and assistive technology

Speech therapy — for participants with speech or swallowing difficulties

Support workers — personal care, domestic assistance, and community access on bad days or during relapses

Assistive technology — mobility aids, communication equipment, cooling vests, and home modifications

Fatigue is the most common and disabling symptom reported by people with MS — and it's one of the most important things to manage with allied health support.

Neurological physiotherapy specialises in the movement and fatigue challenges of MS. A skilled physio can develop:

• Exercise programs that improve strength and fitness without triggering fatigue
• Gait training and balance programs to reduce fall risk
• Aquatic therapy (hydrotherapy) programs
• Heat management strategies (heat sensitivity is common in MS)
• Post-relapse rehabilitation programs

The NDIS funds physiotherapy under Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living. Ensure your plan includes enough hours for regular physiotherapy, plus extra capacity for relapses.

OT for MS focuses on maintaining independence and adapting the home and daily routines to manage fatigue and disability.

Key OT services for MS participants include:

• Energy conservation — pacing strategies and activity modification to reduce fatigue
• Home modification assessments — recommending and sourcing handrails, ramps, shower chairs, and other modifications
• Assistive technology assessments — identifying equipment that can maintain independence
• Cognitive rehabilitation — for participants experiencing cognitive changes ("cog fog")
• Return to work — workplace modification recommendations and strategies for people managing MS while working
• Driving assessment — if MS is affecting your ability to drive safely

MS is episodic — many people have periods of stability followed by relapses that can significantly increase support needs temporarily.

Your NDIS plan should ideally include some flexibility for relapse periods. This might mean:

• Additional support worker hours during relapses
• A contingency budget for short-term increased needs
• Clear access to your support coordinator so they can help quickly

If your plan is under pressure during a relapse, contact your support coordinator immediately. The NDIS has processes to access additional funding urgently when there's been a significant change in circumstances.

Plan reviews can be requested at any time if your MS has progressed or changed significantly. You don't have to wait for your scheduled review.

AT is often essential for maintaining independence with MS. The NDIS funds AT under Capital Supports. Common AT for MS includes:

• Mobility aids — walking frames, rollators, manual and power wheelchairs, scooters
• Cooling vests and products — many people with MS experience heat sensitivity (Uhthoff's phenomenon); cooling products can help manage this
• Communication aids — for participants with speech or motor difficulties
• Smart home technology — voice-activated devices, automated lights, smart door locks
• Continence products — urinary and bowel aids for participants with continence issues
• Home modifications — bathroom modifications, ramps, stair lifts

An OT assessment is usually required before the NDIS will fund significant AT. Include AT assessment funding in your plan.