What Developmental Disability WA (DDWA) does

Developmental Disability WA (DDWA) is a registered not-for-profit charity and the peak advocacy body in Western Australia for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Founded in 1985 and operating from West Perth under the legal name Developmental Disability Council Of Western Australia (Inc.), DDWA delivers individual advocacy, NDIS support coordination and specialist support coordination, and the Side By Side family peer support program for families experiencing challenging behaviour. It also operates a Specialist Education Advocacy Service funded by the WA Department of Education through 30 June 2026.

DDWA produces an extensive library of more than 28 Easy Read publications — guides, handbooks, activity books and conversation cards — covering autism, health care, education, employment, behaviour support, guardianship, dental health and life transitions. These resources are distributed free as PDF downloads and as printed copies priced at A$15 each through an in-house e-commerce shop. The Side By Side program, originally piloted in 2012, was formalised in December 2019 under an Australian Government Department of Social Services ILC (Information, Linkages and Capacity) grant.

Revenue is generated through a diversified but small mix: tiered organisational memberships (A$125–A$500 per year), NDIS-funded support coordination billings, the ILC grant, donations, parent/carer training, and printed-resource sales. Individual and family membership is free. Distribution is regional (Western Australia) with explicit no-overseas-shipping policy, using a multichannel mix of workshops, online learning modules, newsletters, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Vimeo and Instagram. The organisation operates with a lean team of approximately 21 employees and is governed by an independent board with no parent company, no subsidiaries and no external equity ownership.

Name

Developmental Disability WA (DDWA)

Legal name

Developmental Disability Council Of Western Australia (Inc.)

Website

https://ddwa.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Developmental Disability WA (DDWA) is a Western Australian not-for-profit peak body, founded 1985, delivering advocacy, NDIS support coordination and family peer support for people with developmental disabilities, funded by government grants, NDIS billings, memberships and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy and Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parenting Education for Special Needs & Developmental Differences (EDACALAK), Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy services
• NDIS support coordination
• Family peer support
• Easy Read resources
• Disability awareness training

Headquarters

HQ city

West Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Organisational Memberships: Tiered membership program for organisations engaged in delivering services to people with developmental disability. Three tiers: Standard ($125/year), Premium ($250/year), and Premium Plus ($500/year). Individual membership is free.
2. Product Sales: Sale of printed resources including books, guides, and educational materials priced at $15 per item. Most resources are also available as free PDF downloads.
3. Donations: DDWA accepts donations from individuals and organisations to support their programs and services.
4. NDIS Support Coordination: Free support coordination and specialist support coordination services for NDIS participants, funded through NDIS arrangements.
5. Parent/Carer Training: NDIS-funded parent/carer training sessions under the Side By Side program, a registered NDIS provider.
6. Australian Government Funding: Side By Side program supported by the Australian Government Department of Social Services through an ILC (Information, Linkages and Capacity) grant.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Developmental Disability WA is a peak non-profit body in Western Australia that provides disability advocacy, NDIS support coordination, and family peer support for people with developmental, intellectual disabilities and autism, along with their families and carers. The organization also produces and distributes an extensive library of Easy Read guides, handbooks, conversation cards, and educational resources, while delivering workshops, training programs, and membership services to individuals, families, and disability sector professionals.

Product overview

Developmental Disability WA (DDWA) is a disability support organization offering a portfolio of services and published resources. Core services include Support Coordination and Specialist Support Coordination (NDIS), Individual Advocacy, and the Side By Side Family Peer Support program. DDWA produces an extensive library of over 28 published resources including guides, handbooks, activity books, conversation cards, and Easy Read materials covering topics such as Autism, Health Care, Education, Employment, Behaviour Support, Dental Health, and Life Transitions. These products are distributed as free PDF downloads and printed copies available through their online shop. The organization also provides workshops, training, and free individual/organizational membership programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Side By Side: A free Peer Support program connecting families experiencing behaviour which could be seen as challenging, part of DDWA's Family Peer Support service.

Products and services

• Support Coordination NDIS Support Coordination and Specialist Support Coordination services helping NDIS participants understand and implement their NDIS plans, build capacity, and access appropriate supports and services across Western Australia.
• Individual Advocacy Free advocacy service supporting individuals with intellectual, developmental, or communication disabilities and their families to stand up for their rights and needs across education, employment, health, NDIS, and other systems.
• Side By Side (Family Peer Support) Free family Peer Support program connecting families experiencing challenging behaviour with other families through a supported peer group, providing a safe place to share experiences, receive support, and develop family leaders.
• Workshops and Training Events

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Access FoundationminorOthersListed as a Premium Plus Supporter of DDWA. Supports the developmental disability sector in Western Australia.
• Uniting WAminorOthersListed as a supporter of DDWA, part of the Uniting Church network providing community services.
• Identity WAminorOthersListed as a supporter of DDWA, providing services to people with intellectual disability.
• Solution Focused Care ServicesminorOthersListed as a Premium Plus Supporter of DDWA.
• Medela HealthminorOthersListed as a supporter of DDWA.
• Admire CareminorOthersListed as a Premium Plus Supporter of DDWA.
• Activ Gen U (Genu)minorOthersListed as a supporter of DDWA.
• Unparalleled SolutionsminorOthersListed as a supporter of DDWA.
• Holistic StrengthminorOthersListed as a supporter of DDWA.
• Good SammyminorOthersListed as a Premium Plus Supporter of DDWA, providing disability employment services.
• My PlaceminorOthersListed as a supporter of DDWA.
• TADWA (The Ability Centre)minorOthersListed as a supporter of DDWA.
• Nurturing SupportsminorOthersListed as a supporter of DDWA.
• IntelifeminorOthersListed as a supporter of DDWA.
• Legal Aid WAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped Decision Making story cards in collaboration with Legal Aid WA to support participation of people with intellectual disability in conversations about decisions affecting them.
• Australian Government Department of Social ServicescoreOthersFunded Side By Side program through ILC (Information, Linkages and Capacity) grant. Program began as a project in 2012 and received ILC approval in December 2019.
• WA Department of EducationcoreOthersFunding provider for DDWA's Specialist Education Advocacy Service, temporarily funded through to 30th June 2026.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Life Without Barriers: Large national disability and out-of-home care provider offering NDIS support coordination and disability services across Australia. Comparable to DDWA through NDIS-funded service delivery, but at significantly greater scale and geographic footprint.
• Ability First Australia: National federation of disability advocacy organisations. DDWA is a member/peer within this federation; comparable through shared advocacy training, systemic advocacy, and sector representation.
• People with Disability Australia (PWDA): Australia's peak national disability rights organisation representing people with all disability types. Comparable to DDWA's individual advocacy and systemic advocacy functions but at a national scale.
• National Disability Services (NDS): Australia's peak industry body for non-government disability service providers. Comparable through DDWA's organisational membership tiers and sector-worker training offerings, though NDS operates nationally.
• Carers Australia: National peak body representing Australia's unpaid carers, including family carers of people with disability. Comparable to DDWA through family peer support and carer-focused resources, but operating federally across all carer groups.
• Inclusion Australia: National peak body for people with intellectual disability in Australia. Comparable to DDWA as a disability advocacy and Easy Read content producer, but operating federally with broader scope; DDWA operates at state (WA) level.

Regional players

• Multicap: Queensland-based disability service provider offering NDIS support coordination, advocacy, and disability resources. Comparable to DDWA in NDIS-registered service delivery and Easy Read-style content, but operating in QLD with a larger scale.
• Community Living Australia: South Australian disability advocacy and support provider for people with intellectual disability. Comparable peer offering individual advocacy, NDIS support coordination, and family/carer resources — operating in SA rather than WA.

Direct peers

• VALID (Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability): Victorian peak advocacy organisation for people with intellectual disability and their families. Closest functional peer to DDWA — providing individual advocacy, family support, Easy Read resources, and NDIS support coordination — but operating in Victoria rather than WA.

Others

• Yellowbridge (formerly IDEA Wa): WA-based disability advocacy and support provider. Closest in-geography peer to DDWA, offering individual advocacy and NDIS services in Western Australia, providing direct competitive overlap within DDWA's home state.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiFos6hLDvUQcX8Vh6DNwrg
• Facebookfacebook.com/DDCofWAInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/developmental-disability-wa
• Instagraminstagram.com/ddwa__

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Developmental Disability WA (DDWA)