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Introducing the Turtle Tough TV enclosure—the perfect protection for your TV in Robust Specialist Disability Accommodation
When it comes to safety and style, you can’t beat our Turtle Tough TV enclosure. It’s durable, has a modern design and reduces the risk of injury for high-risk areas, including Robust Specialist Disability Accommodation. What is the Tough Turtle TV enclosure? Made from 3mm steel with an unbreakable 12mm polycarbonate screen, the Tough Turtle TV enclosure is built to last. It’s the perfect way to protect your TV, suitable for indoor and outdoor spaces. With built-in ventilation, gas struts for easy lifting, handy mounting brackets, anti-tamper screws and, all corners and edges are rounded so you can rest....
Why the SIL, STA, MTA or SDA Accommodation you’re Providing may be Operating Illegally
Have you confirmed before trading within your SIL, STA, SDA or MTA house that it has the correct building classification? Is it a Class 1a, Class 1b, Class 2 or Class 3? All approved dwellings will have an occupancy permit (OP), which will state the approved use of that dwelling in the form of a classification. If the building classification is Class 1a, It may not be fit for purpose. We have often been asked to manage SIL, STA or MTA properties with an OP for Class 1a, which we decline. It is not a simple case of renting a....
Assistive technology ready & home automation for Specialist Disability Accommodation
Independent Living Made Easy Assisted living and Smart Home Automation technology is enabling people with disabilities to live fuller and more rewarding independent lives. New home automation technology maximises the ability of those with disabilities to live independently by enabling control of their home through smart devices and voice control. The technology is seamless in its simplicity of use and is designed for use by people with disabilities in mind. There are endless scenarios where smart home technology can help everyday living... Building Specialist Disability Accommodation that is Assistive technology ready with home automation allows users to live with a....
Here’s Why Smoke Alarm Controllers Can Be a Valuable Addition to SDA Homes
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) provides a range of housing options for those with very high support needs and extreme functional impairments. SDA homes include a range of accessible features that allow participants to live more independently while accessing the support services they need. An SDA home falls under one of four categories: Improved Liveability, Fully Accessible, High Physical Support and Robust. The accommodation can be located anywhere, but it must include design features that are customised to suit the needs of the occupant. This could be structural adjustments or internal fittings such as automated doors and height-adjustable benches for those....
SDAs Must Have Sprinklers
. Spanish philosopher George Santayana stated, “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.” It appears with the rollout of specialist disability accommodation we have learnt nothing from the past in how to keep people with disability safe. Are we building fire traps for SDA Participants? The History of the Kew Cottages Tragedy? View the Kew Cottages history in brief In April 1996 nine men were killed in a fire that swiftly and violently engulfed their unit at Kew Cottages, a residential institution for people with intellectual disability. But are the SDAs we are....
SDA 2 Hour Backup Requirements Explained
Design Specification The SDA standard below requires a 2-hour emergency backup in the event of a power outage for 2x GPO points (general purpose outlets) in a participant room for a range of equipment. The most suitable emergency backup device to accommodate the requirements is a UPS system. Types of equipment that may require redundant power Ventilator Ceiling hoist Emergency notification alarm Electric bed controls Alternating air mattress CPAP device Door controllers Suctioning equipment Small fridge for medication Communication decices Air-conditioning is typically not factored into the design load, however, the two-hour capacity provides a participant who is reliant....
Alarm Notifications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community
Being woken from your sleep by a smoke alarm or similar is not something most of us think about. But what if you are deaf or hard of hearing and cannot hear emergency alarms in an emergency? Deafgard is an alarm that you can see but more importantly feel when you are asleep as it has an intense vibrating pad that is placed under the pillow that will wake the heaviest of sleepers. There are fire alarms you hear and those that you feel. Deafgard has been specifically designed for the deaf and hard of hearing in fire and emergency....
The Failures of SDA and Fire Safety
Following on from my previous posts about the safety of participants in Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) I thought I would again challenge the status quo of what is perceived to be permitted building classifications vs safe building classifications. How difficult is it to evacuate one SDA participant from a home in a fire? Now ask yourself, how you would evacuate 10, 20 or even 30 participants in an emergency? We have an SDA development on the books with 34 participants housed above ground level, how will they be evacuated? We already know based on the SDA Pricing Arrangements for Specialist....
Making Emergency Management Compliance of SDA’s Simple
Keeping everyone safe in a multi-storey building that contains Specialist Disability Accommodation, is the responsibility of both the SIL provider and the SDA owner/provider. Unfortunately, the Australian Building Codes Board negligently ignores the rights and life safety of people with disability by excluding any prescriptive requirements within the deemed-to-satisfy sections of the Building Code of Australia that address the protection and safe evacuation of people with a disability. Like most things I personally think it will require an incident involving loss of life of people with disability before anything happens with building legislation, as if Kew Cottages, Childres Backpackers and....
Fire Safety for Specialist Disability Accommodation
There will be fatalities! It’s not if, but when! Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) first rolled out in 2013 and is aimed at designing houses for persons with ‘Extreme Functional Impairment or Very High Support Needs’. These are identified under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (SDA) Rules 2016 as an impairment resulting in an extremely reduced functional capacity to undertake in one or more activities of mobility, self-care or self-management and has a very high need for person to person support. The result is that particular attention will need to be paid to design suitability for occupants of these dwellings in....
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Recent Posts
- Upgrading an Existing House to Specialist Disability Accommodation
- Why Robust SDA is Failing Participants, Carers and Investors
- You cannot certify Hybrid SDA with Robust and High Physical Support or Fully Accessible for the same dwelling
- Introducing the Turtle Tough TV enclosure—the perfect protection for your TV in Robust Specialist Disability Accommodation
- How much money will I earn investing in SDA Specialist Disability Accommodation?