NDIS Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology (AT) refers to equipment, technology, and devices that help you do things you can’t do because of your disability, or that help you do those things more easily or safely. People use equipment and technology every day, but not every everyday item is AT under the NDIS.
The main difference is that AT is connected to your disability support needs and helps with daily functioning, independence, safety, or participation.
AT is best understood as practical support that helps remove or reduce disability-related barriers. It may be simple, such as a non-slip map, modified cutlery, or walking stick. It may also be complex, such as a powered wheelchair, prosthetic, or powered adjustable bed. In some cases, AT may also include technology such as an app or device that supports communication.
The World Health Organization describes AT as “products and related systems and services that help maintain or improve a person’s functioning.”
Under the NIDS, AT must be related to your disability support needs. The NDIS describes AT as “[things to] help you do things you can’t do and can help you live more independently... Assistive technology also helps you do things more safely.” This means AT may include items that help you need less help from others, keep doing everyday tasks, complete activities more independently, or use equipment that has been personalised or adapted for your disability support needs.
Not all equipment is AT under the NDIS. Everyday household items such as standard kettles, furniture, and computers or phones aren’t usually funded because they are useful. The item must be needed because of your disability to be considered AT.
The NDIS also doesn’t generally include items for treatment or rehabilitation, changes to public spaces, changes to public vehicles (buses, taxis, etc.), or assessment and therapy tools used by therapists as participant-funded AT. These may be the responsibility of other systems or might not be considered NDIS supports.
What AT May Be Funded?
All NDIS supports’ must meet the NDIS funding criteria before they can be included in a plan. For AT, the NDIA considers whether the item is related to disability support needs, suitable, value for money, should be funded by another service system, and is an NDIS support under certain rules.
AT must have a direct connection to your disability support needs. For example, it may help you complete a task you can’t currently do, make a task less tiring, reduce the need for personal support, or help you do something more safely.
The NDIA also considers whether the AT is the right item for you. This includes whether it’s safe, meets relevant safety standards (where possible), it can be used in the places you need it, and will help you do what you need it to do.
Assistive Technology & Goals
AT should help you pursue your goals, but having a goal doesn’t automatically mean the NDIS must fund a specific item. For example, you may have a goal to move around your home more independently, but the NDIA still needs to decide whether a wheelchair or another mobility support meets the NDIS funding criteria.
Asking for a specific brand, model, colour, design, or optional feature doesn’t mean the NDIS must fund that exact version. The NDIS generally funds the standard level of AT needed for your disability support needs and goals, and you may need to pay extra yourself for features that aren’t disability related.
Other Funding Systems
The NDIS must consider whether AT is value for money compared with other supports or items that could achieve the same outcome. This includes looking at less expensive options, how long the item will last, whether it will need maintenance or repairs, whether renting is better than buying, and whether the item could reduce other supports over time.
The NDIS can’t fund AT if another organisation or service system is more appropriate. For example, a health service may provide equipment needed in hospital or shortly after surgery, while education or employment systems may be responsible for certain equipment used at school, university or work.
Low-, Mid- and High-Cost Assistive Technology
The NDIS groups assistive technology into three cost categories: low-cost, mid-cost, and high-cost. The evidence required depends on the cost, risk, and complexity of the item.
Low-Cost AT
Low-cost AT costs less than $1,500 per item. These items are usually easier to set up and use, and they’re often available from local suppliers or general retailers.
Examples Include:
Continence products
Non-slip bathmats
Large print labels
Walking sticks
Basic shower chairs
Mid-Cost AT
Mid-cost AT costs between $1,500 and $15,000 per item. These items are typically more complex than low-cost AT and may need an AT advisor to recommend the item and support setup or safe use.
Examples Include:
Standard hoist
Customised shower chair
Ankle-foot orthotics
Alternative communication devices
Some power wheelchairs
Pressure care mattresses
For mid-cost AT, you need written advice from an assistive technology advisor before purchase. The advice may be a letter, email, or report, and it should explain what item is needed, why it’s suitable, how it helps with disability support needs and goals, why it’s value for money, and the estimated cost.
High-Cost AT
High-cost AT costs more than $15,000 per item. These items are usually complex, may be custom-made, may require specialised setup, and generally need an individual assessment to confirm they are appropriate and safe.
Examples Include:
Custom-made wheelchair
Complex communication devices
Many prosthetics
Ventilators
For high-cost AT, you typically need a recent assessment or report from a qualified AT assessor and at least one quote. The assessment should show what AT is needed, why it’s suitable, what setup or training is required, and whether the item is safe and likely to have long-term benefit.
AT Advisors & Assessors
An AT advisor is someone with relevant skills and experience to help you choose safe and appropriate AT. This may include allied health practitioners, continence nurses, rehabilitation engineers, orientation and mobility specialists, or AT mentors with recognised qualifications.
An AT Assessor is usually needed for high-cost or complex items. High-cost assessments must be completed by an assessor with the relevant qualifications and expertise for that type of AT.
The advisor or assessor should provide independent advice about whether the item is right for you, safe to use, value for money, and likely to meet your disability support needs.
Trials & Rentals
You may need to trial AT before buying it, especially if you haven’t used the item before, the item is complex, or there’s uncertainty about whether it’s suitable. The NDIS may fund trials where the trial is needed to confirm whether the item is right for you and meets NDIS funding criteria.
Renting AT may be more appropriate than buying in some situations. For example, renting may be useful if you only need the item temporarily, are waiting for a replacement, have changing support needs, or need to test an item before purchase.
The NDIS may require evidence about why rental is needed, how long the item is required, and whether rending is better value for money. For high-cost rental arrangements, a quote may also be required.
Repairs & Maintenance
AT may need repairs or maintenance due to regular use, accidental damage, servicing needs, or equipment failure. The NDIS may fund repairs and maintenance for AT where the item is funded through your plan and the repair meets NDIS rules.
If the item is faulty, not of acceptable quality, or not fit for purpose, you may also have rights under Australian Consumer Law and may be able to ask the provider for repair, replacement, or refund.
Small repairs may be funded differently to major repairs, and you should contact the NDIA or your my NDIS contact if a repair is expensive, urgent, or happening often. Frequent repairs may suggest the item no longer meets your individual needs.
Replacing AT
AT may need to be replaced if it no longer works, keeps breaking down, is unsafe, can’t be repaired, has been outgrown by a child, or no longer matches your specific support needs.
The evidence needed for replacement depends on the cost and complexity of the replacement item. Items under $15,00 may need written advice from an AT advisor, while items over $15,000 generally need an assessment from an AT assessor and a quote.
If your plan has a specific description of the approved AT, the replacement must match that description. If there’s no specific description, the replacement may not need to be exactly the same as the old item, but it still needs to meet your disability support needs and NDIS funding rules.
AT can be an important support for helping you live more safely, independently, and confidently. However, AT must still meet the NDIS funding criteria, be related to disability support needs, and be supported by the right level of evidence based on its cost, risk, and complexity.
Understanding the difference between low-, mid-, and high-cost AT can help you prepare clearer requests, gather the right advice or assessments, and avoid purchasing items that may not meet NDIS requirements. Where you mya be unsure, it’s best to speak with your my NDIS contact, support coordinator (if you have one), plan manager, or AT advisor before buying or claiming an item from your plan.
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