Free interpreting & plans in accessible format available for NDIS participants

NDIS participants and family members who have English as a second language (esl) can now access fee-free interpreting to implement their plans.

The NDIA recently established a partnership with Translating Interpreting Services (TIS) National to support participants and family members who have English as a second language (ESL). Translating and interpreting services are for use by a participant to implement funded supports in their NDIS plan when engaging an NDIS registered provider.

A participant who has ESL will have an NDIS Planner, Local Area Coordinator or Support Coordinator to assist access to:

  1. NDIS-funded supports in their primary language;
  2. Mainstream TIS services and the coordination of informal language supports; and
  3. Mainstream and community English development opportunities.

NDIS-registered service providers can register with TIS and support participants to access the service when the interpreting is in conjunction with a support or product funded in the participant’s plan.

All activities associated with the implementation of funded supports are covered under the arrangement. This includes meeting new staff or dealing with a query, issue or incident related to the implementation of the funded supports.

TIS is not available for pre-planning or preparation of a plan review if it is related to a funded support that is not currently in the participant’s plan.

Further information and fact sheets are available on the NDIS website.

Participants can request a copy of their NDIS plan printed in a variety of accessible formats. The NDIA has an agreement with Vision Australia to provide copies of the plan and other correspondence, at no cost to the participant, in:

  • Braille
  • Electronic text (on CD)
  • Large print
  • Audio (on CD)

More information is available on the NDIS website
https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants