Personalised NDIS Goals

It's important to emphasise that NDIS goals should always be highly individualised and person-centred. The examples provided here serve as general guidance, but each participant's goals should be tailored to their unique strengths, challenges, and aspirations.

Individuals with ASD are all different and all have unique strengths, abilities and desires in life. Similarly, individuals with ASD face a varied range of challenges.

It makes sense then, that there is no "one size fits all" solution to developing NDIS goals. Great goals come from careful reflection about your personal situation and preferences and lots of discussions with friends and family who have your best interests at heart.

Some Tips For Your NDIS Goals

While there's no strict rule, NDIS support plans usually have 2-3 short term goals and 2-3 medium to long term goals as well. This is a good number to aim towards when developing your own goals.

Your goals should focus on what you want to achieve rather than the supports that you would like the NDIS to provide for you.

Consider the Goals of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)

The NDIS supports a wide range of goals for individuals with autism, so think broadly about your vision for a good life and what it might take to reach this. It can be useful however to try and align your goals with the goals of the NDIA.

The scheme aims to support people to increase their independence, increase social and economic participation and develop their capacity to participate in the community.

Talk to Your Local Area Coordinator

If after reading this article, you're still not sure about how to develop your goals, it can be really useful to talk to your NDIS local area coordinator.

Examples of NDIS Goals

We've tried to break down our NDIS goal examples into a few different categories to show the breadth of possible goals you can set for yourself.

Communication and Social Interaction:

Example Goal: Improve verbal communication skills to engage in meaningful conversations with family and peers.

This goal focuses on enhancing the individual's ability to express themselves verbally, initiate conversations, and participate in back and forth conversations. It may also involve learning key word sign. Achieving this goal not only promotes effective communication but also fosters social connections and relationships, which are essential for overall well-being.

Daily Living Skills:

Example Goal: Develop independent daily living skills, including meal preparation and cooking.

This goal aims to empower the individual to plan, prepare, and cook meals independently. By acquiring these essential life skills, they can gain a greater sense of autonomy and self-sufficiency and rely less on support workers. This may involve the assistance of an occupational therapist and may contribute to an individual's overall quality of life and independence.

Education and Learning:

Example Goal: Enhance academic skills, particularly in areas like reading and math, to succeed in school.

This goal focuses on improving academic abilities, which are crucial for educational progress and future opportunities. By working on specific academic skills, the individual can better access and engage in their education.

Social Inclusion and Community Participation:

Example Goal: Increase participation in model train club to foster social connections.

This goal emphasizes active engagement in community life, such as joining clubs, attending community events, and participating in group activities. It promotes social inclusion, friendship-building, and a sense of belonging within the community.

Employment and Vocational Goals:

Example Goal: Explore vocational interests and identify potential career paths based on personal strengths and preferences.

This goal encourages the individual to discover their vocational interests and consider suitable career options. It may involve career assessments, skills development, and career counselling to pave the way for future employment opportunities.

Behaviour and Emotional Regulation:

Example Goal: Develop coping strategies for managing anxiety and reducing meltdowns.

This goal targets emotional regulation and behaviour management, helping the individual acquire effective strategies to handle anxiety and prevent or minimize challenging behaviours. It contributes to improved emotional well-being and daily functioning.

Sensory Regulation:

Example Goal: Improve sensory regulation skills to better cope with sensory sensitivities.

This goal focuses on strategies to manage sensory sensitivities and sensory overload, which are common challenges for individuals with autism. Developing effective sensory regulation techniques can enhance comfort and reduce distress in various environments.

Independence in the Community:

Example Goal: Increase independence and confidence in navigating trains and rail network.

This goal promotes community inclusion and participation by empowering the individual to travel independently, use public transportation, and access community resources. It fosters greater autonomy and community engagement.

The Importance of Early Intervention

Early intervention is a key component of NDIS support for children with autism. Early identification and intervention can significantly impact a child's progress. Careful consideration of a child's goals is therefore extremely important and can influence the course of a child's life. Here are examples of a child's NDIS goals that could be included in a child's NDIS plan.

Improving Communication Skills:

Example Goal: Enhance verbal communication skills to facilitate effective interaction with peers and educators.

This goal centres on improving the child's ability to express themselves verbally, engage in conversations, and communicate their needs and ideas. Achieving this goal not only fosters social inclusion but also supports academic progress by enabling better communication in the classroom and with peers.

Developing Social Skills:

Example Goal: Build social skills and peer relationships to promote inclusion and positive social interactions.

This goal aims to help the child develop essential social skills such as sharing, taking turns, making eye contact, and understanding social cues. By fostering positive interactions and friendships, the child can experience a sense of belonging and emotional well-being within their social environment. This may involve a child's therapist who focuses on capacity building.

Enhancing School Readiness:

Example Goal: Prepare the child for a successful transition to school by developing foundational skills.

This goal may include improving pre-academic skills like early literacy and numeracy, enhancing their control and self-regulation abilities, and promoting a routine for school readiness. Achieving this goal contributes to a smoother transition to formal education and sets a strong foundation for future learning.

Monitoring and Adjusting National Disability Insurance Scheme Goals

Goals are not static but evolve over time as the individual progresses and their needs change. Participants, their families, and support providers regularly review and adjust goals to ensure they remain relevant and aligned with the individual's developmental journey.

While developing the right NDIS goals to suit you can be a challenging process, it's well worth the effort. The NDIS can play a crucial role in supporting individuals with autism to achieve their goals and lead fulfilling lives. These examples of NDIS goals for ASD illustrate the diversity of aspirations and needs within the autism community.

How Can Focus Care Help?

As a registered NDIS provider, we offer a range of services to support people with autism to live independent and fulfilling lives.

If you'd like to find out more about the other support services available for people with autism, please read our recent blog article, "Autism: A Guide to Support Services".

Many of our clients benefit from our social support services and our creative therapies that can promote positive mental and emotional growth for people with autism.

Talk to us today about the services we can provide through the NDIS.