Am I eligible?

NDIS eligibility requires that you have a permanent disability that significantly affects your ability to participate in everyday activities. Both autism and ADHD can meet this threshold individually, and the combined impact of AuDHD is often greater than either condition alone.

The basic eligibility criteria are: you are aged under 65 when you first apply, you are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a Protected Special Category Visa, you have a permanent disability (autism qualifies; ADHD may qualify), and your disability substantially reduces your ability to participate effectively in activities or your social and economic participation.

The ADHD eligibility challenge

Autism is on the NDIS List A as a condition likely to meet the disability requirements. ADHD is not on List A, which means ADHD alone requires more evidence to establish eligibility. However, if you have both conditions, your autism diagnosis provides the primary eligibility pathway, and your ADHD can be documented as a factor that increases your support needs.

The application process

Step 1: Gather evidence

You will need a formal diagnostic report confirming your autism diagnosis (and ideally your ADHD diagnosis as well). You will also need evidence of functional impact — how your disability affects your daily life. This can include reports from your psychologist, psychiatrist, GP, occupational therapist, or other treating professionals. Letters from employers, educators, or support workers describing the impact of your disability can also be valuable.

Step 2: Make an access request

Contact the NDIS on 1800 800 110 or visit an NDIS office to make an access request. You can also have a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) help you through this process. You will need to provide your diagnostic evidence and a completed Access Request Form. The NDIS has 21 days to make a decision on your access request.

Step 3: Planning meeting

If your access request is approved, you will be assigned a planner or LAC who will schedule a planning meeting. This meeting determines what supports will be funded in your plan. This is the most important meeting in the process — prepare thoroughly.

Preparing for your planning meeting

The planning meeting is where you describe your goals and the supports you need to achieve them. The planner will use this information to determine your funding level. Being well-prepared makes a significant difference.

Describe your worst days, not your best

AuDHD is characterised by inconsistency. You may have days where you function well and days where you cannot get out of bed. The NDIS needs to fund for your worst days, not your best. Describe the full range of your experience, including the days when everything falls apart.

Frame goals around participation

NDIS goals should be about participation in life, not about “fixing” your neurodivergence. Good AuDHD goals might include maintaining employment with appropriate support, participating in community activities, managing daily living tasks independently, maintaining physical and mental health, and building and sustaining social connections.

Explain the dual impact

Be explicit about how autism and ADHD interact to increase your support needs. For example: your autism means you need routine, but your ADHD means you cannot maintain routine without external support. Your autism creates sensory sensitivity, and your ADHD means you cannot filter out sensory input. Your autism makes transitions difficult, and your ADHD means you lose track of time and miss transitions entirely. This interaction is where the additional support need lies.

What supports can be funded?

Core supports

Assistance with daily life tasks (cleaning, cooking, shopping, administrative tasks). Social and community participation support (attending events, groups, or activities with a support worker). Transport funding for disability-related travel.

Capacity building

Support coordination to help you navigate the NDIS and connect with services. Therapeutic supports including psychology, occupational therapy, and speech pathology. Employment support including job coaching and workplace adjustment assistance. Skill development to build daily living and social skills.

Capital supports

Assistive technology that supports daily functioning (noise-cancelling headphones, weighted blankets, sensory tools, specific software). Home modifications if needed for sensory reasons.

If your plan is not enough

Many AuDHD Australians receive initial plans that are insufficient. This is frustrating but common. You have the right to request a plan review if your circumstances change or if your plan does not adequately meet your needs.

Internal review

If you disagree with your plan, you can request an internal review within 3 months of receiving it. The review will be conducted by a different NDIS staff member. Provide additional evidence of your support needs and explain specifically what the current plan does not cover.

External review

If the internal review does not resolve your concerns, you can appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). This is a formal process, and you may benefit from support from a disability advocacy organisation. Many advocacy services offer free representation for NDIS appeals.

Getting help

You do not have to navigate the NDIS alone. Disability advocacy organisations in every state can help you prepare applications, attend planning meetings, and lodge reviews. NDIS support coordinators (if funded in your plan) help you find and connect with service providers. Local Area Coordinators can also assist, though their capacity varies.

Choosing your providers

Once you have an NDIS plan, you choose who provides your supports. For AuDHD participants, it is worth seeking providers who understand neurodivergence as a difference rather than a deficit, have experience working with adults with both autism and ADHD, take a strengths-based approach to support, are flexible in how they deliver services (including remote options), and respect your autonomy and self-knowledge.

You have the right to change providers at any time if they are not meeting your needs. Under plan management or self-management, you have maximum flexibility in choosing providers. Agency-managed plans are more restrictive but still offer provider choice within the NDIS registered provider network.

This resource is published by AUDHD Australia as general guidance on the NDIS. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. NDIS policies and processes change frequently — verify current information at ndis.gov.au or contact the NDIS on 1800 800 110. AUDHD Australia is actively advocating for improved NDIS access and support for AuDHD Australians. Last updated April 2026.