An independent living skills assessment looks at how you manage everyday activities and where support would help. It may consider personal care, meals, communication, travel and other parts of daily life relevant to your goals.
Ask what the assessment is for and who will complete it. Different assessments answer different questions, and a provider’s support plan is not the same as a professional functional assessment.
Explain an ordinary day
Tell the assessor what you can do, what takes effort and what assistance you already use. Include times when your needs change, rather than only describing your easiest day.
You can talk about what you want to maintain as well as skills you want to develop. Needing ongoing assistance is not a failure.
Ask how the assessment will happen
Find out whether it involves conversation, observation, a visit or particular assessment tools. Ask about the person’s qualifications, the cost and how your privacy and consent are managed.
You can request communication adjustments, breaks or a trusted supporter. Tell the assessor what would help you participate in the process.
Read the recommendations
Ask for a report you can understand and an explanation of what it recommends. Check that it reflects your own preferences, current assistance and the practical setting where support happens.
An assessment can provide evidence for planning. It does not itself approve NDIS funding or guarantee a particular service.
Turn advice into agreed support
Discuss which recommendations need a health professional, equipment provider or trained support worker. Agree on responsibilities and how the instructions reach the people assisting you.
If the plan is to practise a skill, decide how and when you will review whether the approach is useful. You should be able to give feedback and ask questions.
Our living skills checklist can help you describe everyday tasks before the conversation. Ask the assessor which type of report or recommendation is relevant to the question you need answered.
