Assistive technology and the NDIS: a plain English guide

Key takeaway: Assistive technology is any equipment that helps you do more on your own, and the NDIS funds it in levels depending on how much it costs and how complex it is.

What assistive technology means

Assistive technology, often shortened to AT, is any piece of equipment that helps you do a task you would otherwise find hard or impossible to do on your own. It covers an enormous range. At the simpler end it might be a shower chair, a grab rail, a walking stick, a jar opener or a weighted spoon. At the more involved end it might be a wheelchair, a hoist, a communication device that speaks for you, or software that reads a screen aloud. If it helps you move around, look after yourself, communicate, learn or take part in daily life more independently, it counts as assistive technology.

The low, mid and high cost levels

The NDIS thinks about AT in bands, roughly grouped by cost and complexity. Lower cost, everyday items are the simplest to get. They are usually low risk, widely available and do not need a formal assessment, so you can often buy them and claim from your budget with a quote or receipt. Mid range items sit in the middle and may need a recommendation from an allied health professional. Higher cost and more complex items, such as a custom wheelchair or a specialised communication device, need a proper assessment and one or more written quotes before they are approved. The dollar amounts that separate these bands change over time and are set in the current NDIS pricing arrangements, so it is worth checking the latest figures rather than relying on a number you saw a while ago. The general principle holds though: the simpler and cheaper the item, the lighter the process.

How AT is funded

Assistive technology is usually funded from the capital supports part of your plan. Capital supports are for one off, higher value purchases, and they tend to be less flexible than your other budgets, which means AT funding is often stated to a purpose rather than left open. In practice that means your plan might set aside an amount for a specific type of equipment, and that money is meant to go towards it. For lower cost items you can generally use a quote or receipt. For higher cost items you will usually need a written quote, and sometimes more than one, before the purchase is approved.

Getting the right AT

For anything beyond the simplest everyday items, an occupational therapist or another allied health professional will assess you and recommend what actually suits your needs, your body and your environment. They look at what you are trying to do, where you live and how you move, then match equipment to that. A good assessment saves money and frustration, because the wrong chair or the wrong device can end up unused in a corner. Where possible, trials matter. Trying equipment before you commit, borrowing a demo model or hiring for a short period helps you feel whether it genuinely works for you before a larger purchase is locked in.

Repairs, trials and replacement

Assistive technology is not always a one time purchase. Equipment wears out, breaks down or stops fitting your needs as your situation changes, and the NDIS recognises this. AT can be repaired or replaced when it is reasonable to do so, and there is often funding to keep essential equipment maintained and working. The best thing you can do is keep good records. Hold on to your quotes, your therapist reports and your receipts, and note when something was bought and any warranty details. When it comes time to repair or replace an item, that paper trail makes the conversation with your planner or plan manager much smoother.

Getting started

If you think assistive technology could help, the first step is usually a conversation. Talk to your support coordinator, your plan manager or your NDIS planner about what you are finding hard, and ask what your plan allows for AT. For anything beyond simple everyday items, you will want an occupational therapist or allied health professional to assess you and put a recommendation in writing. Finding the right OT is where a lot of people get stuck, and it is exactly the kind of search Supportd is built for. You can look for occupational therapists and allied health providers near you who are taking new participants, so you can get the assessment moving without ringing around for weeks.

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