Assistive Technology Explained

These days, there’s no shortage of exciting low-cost technology that can make life easier for people with disability – what we call Assisted Technology. In this article we look at some examples and explore what makes some eligible for Assistive Technology funding.

The NDIS can fund any piece of equipment or technology that’s related to your disability – this can be something that helps in a therapeutic sense or that allows you to perform a task you’d otherwise be unable to do.

Assistive technologies (AT) are physical supports that help you:

do something more easily or safely
do something you otherwise cannot do because of your disability.

Examples of AT can include:

an app to help you speak to another person if you have a speech impairment
non-slip mats, that assist you to move around your home safely
special forks, that assist you to eat
higher risk AT items, such as wheelchairs and adjustable beds.

What sort of technology can the NDIS fund?

Below are some popular items to help get you thinking about what might be suitable for you:

iPads and Tablets: With many providers limiting their face-to-face sessions at the moment, iPads and tablets have become so popular that the NDIS has changed their rules around them.
Apps: There are many smartphone apps out there to help people with disability. From text-to-speech apps for people with visual impairment, to apps that can assist people to communicate who are non-verbal, there’s thousands of apps out there that might support you in achieving your NDIS goals.
Headphones: Noise cancelling headphones can be useful for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, by blocking out distracting background noise and even helping avoid sensory overload.
Smartwatches: Smartwatches come loaded with many features that can make life easier for people with disability, including GPS, fall detection and heart rate monitoring. Even virtual wallets, which allow you to link your smartwatch to your bank account, can be really useful for mobility purposes.
Smart-home accessories: To assist you with daily living around the house, there’s all kinds of technology, like voice activated lights or doors for people with mobility related disabilities, visual doorbells for people with hearing impairment, or smart speakers that allow you to get the weather and news with your voice alone.

AT may be included in your NDIS plan if:

it meets the reasonable and necessary criteria
it meets your needs
it helps you to pursue your goals.

For more detailed information on how the NDIS define and fund AT, or how to add AT into your plan, please refer to our Assistive Technology Operational Guideline.

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