NDIS, therapies, appointments, routines… sometimes it feels that there are million things to keep track of, to remember to attend, to claim and to pay for. It is really important that you find a strategy to keep track of these things that suits you and your family’s lifestyle.
NDIS related therapies and expenses can be a mammoth task to keep track of. If you are time poor or not confident with technology, consider going Plan Managed where a support coordinator can support you to spend the money allocated with proper evidence-based supports and take care of paying the invoices for you also.
If you would prefer to be Self Managed, you will need a good organisational system to make sure you keep track of invoices for both claiming and paying. Simple and low cost solutions can be to use a notepad dedicated to NDIS or a simple Excel spreadsheet. It is important to keep note of the date of the invoice, the invoice number and the $ amount. I would also make a note if the amount has been claimed through the NDIS portal and if you have paid the account to the provider. If using Excel, you could also set up a running total to keep track of your expenditure in both Core and Capacity Building. Although, this is easy to check on the NDIS portal also. Don’t forget to keep your invoices for the plan dates and file them away in case of audit.
There are also apps you can use which cost money, but are claimable through your funding. For example, Plan Tracker, which costs $15 per month.
Appointments need to be considered particularly in a child’s early years where multiple therapies, paediatrician appointments and diagnostic assessments need to be done. A low cost option could be to use a small paper diary which are readily available in discount supermarkets or use the calendar which is on your mobile phone or email account. These can also be easily linked to a smart watch, like an Apple Watch or Fitbit Versa for daily reminders. Not all smart watches are capable of calendar notifications so it is important to do some research before purchasing.
Routines can be programmed into a diary or calendar and made to repeat as necessary. This saves having to write them in every week / fortnight, depending on what the activity is. Using a whiteboard in the home can also help everyone to keep track of what is coming up for the day / week. Whiteboards and markers can be bought cheaply at K-Mart and you can buy routine magnets which have pre-programmed activities on them if you want a more colourful option. These can also allow non-writing children to have choices and participate in their own daily / weekly routines.
Magnetic Moves have a range of magnetic organiser options, including weekend activities tabs and for toileting routines.
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