Language

The person with intellectual disability

The User Guide uses the terms ‘person’, ‘person with intellectual disability’ and ‘people with intellectual disability’ to refer to the person or people receiving the healthcare service(s). The person may be a child, young person or adult with intellectual disability.

Family

Family refers to those who are related to the person receiving healthcare services by blood, marriage (including de facto), fostering or adoption. Family members may also act as unpaid carers or legally appointed guardians of adults with intellectual disability. 

Supporters

People with intellectual disability may often have a wide range of people involved in their life beyond paid or unpaid carers. The term ‘supporter’ can encompass the titles and roles described below, as well as other professionals involved in a person’s life. 

Where relevant, the User Guide may highlight a specific role such as a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) disability support worker or NDIS health liaison officer.

Direct support

• NDIS disability support worker: A paid carer who may often attend the hospital or day surgery with the person.

Indirect support

• Disability advocate: An independent social or citizen advocate.
• NDIS accommodation support manager: A manager of NDIS accommodation services, responsible for delivering accommodation services. The manager may function as a liaison for admission and discharge planning on behalf of the NDIS accommodation service.
• NDIS behaviour support specialist and allied health therapist: Professionals who provide behavioural and therapeutic intervention to the person. These professionals may supply important information to assist in comprehensive care planning.

NDIS support coordination

• NDIS support coordinator: Support coordinators assist the person with the management of their individual funding packages through referral and coordination of NDIS services. A support coordinator has an overview of all the NDIS services used by the person. Support coordinators may be involved in discharge planning.

NDIS planning

• NDIS planner: NDIS planners are from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and are responsible for the development of the person’s NDIS funding plan. The NDIA planner may be involved in discharge planning when changes to the person’s funding are required.
• Health liaison officer: Health liaison officers work directly with hospitals to streamline discharge for NDIS participants when they are medically ready. NDIS plans include funding that meets reasonable and necessary criteria and directly relates to the person’s disability. The NDIS website has information for NDIS participants in hospital.

Guardian

A guardian is a person permitted under law to make healthcare decisions on behalf of another person.

Health service organisation

Refers to hospitals, day procedure services and public dental services.

Inclusion

Inclusion focuses on removing barriers, making adjustments, and recognising and adjusting for diverse needs across the population to ensure equity.

Reasonable adjustments

Reasonable adjustments in health care include policies, processes, systems and communication aids that cater to the needs of the person with disability. The User Guide identifies when and how reasonable adjustments may assist people with intellectual disability in accessing health care.