Accessing Assistive Technology through the NDIS – a complete guide
Accessing Assistive Technology through the NDIS
Part 2: About Assistive Technology
Part 3: Prescribing assistive technology in the NDIS
More than 600,000 Australians are now NDIS participants and taking steps to live more confident, independent lives. This article explores how assistive technology can transform the lives of people living with a disability, how to access funding, and how an NDIS provider like Tunstall Healthcare can help.
Legislated in 2013 but entering full operations in 2020, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a support system designed to encourage Australians under the age of 65 living with a permanent or significant disability to achieve their goals and live life to the fullest. The program involves creating and funding individualised plans to meet specific goals in a participant's life, providing support for people with disabilities, their families, and carers.
The NDIS's insurance-style approach seeks to invest in people with disabilities earlier in their lives to pursue better outcomes. The NDIS empowers participants to be confident consumers, connected to relevant services, supplied with individualised plans and granted funded supports. These supports can include the use of assistive technologies where appropriate. We'll explore the different kinds of assistive technology available later in this article.
To apply for the NDIS, a person must:
Have a permanent disability that significantly affects their ability to take part in everyday activities,
Be an Australian citizen or hold a permanent or Protected Special Category visa and,
Be aged less than 65 years old at the time of first entry to the NDIS.
Before accessing NDIS support, including funding for assistive technology, an individualised plan must be created to address the challenges in the participant’s life. The tailored NDIS plan is developed by a registered plan management provider in conjunction with the NDIS, and a trusted person or the participant themselves.
Supports and services available through the NDIS should improve the independence and livelihood of Australians living with disabilities. These can include personal engagement, transport, workplace assistance, therapy, aids and specialised equipment.
The range of supports offered are often more diverse than you might expect; the underlying principle guiding supports' eligibility for NDIS funding is that they should "help people with disability have the same things in life as other people". This may include employment, quality of living arrangements, mobility, peace of mind, health, hobbies, and the company of family and friends.
NDIS supports can fall into one of the three following categories:
Core: supports which help participants complete daily living activities
Capital: supports for investments, including assistive technology, home or vehicle modifications, equipment, or funding for capital costs/one-off purchases (for example, Specialist Disability Accommodation)
Capacity building: supports that help participants build their skills and independence
NDIS supports can be further classified based on their intended purpose/outcome. Some examples include:
Assistance with Daily Life
Transport
Consumables
Assistance with Social & Community Participation
Assistive Technology
Home Modifications
Coordination of Supports
Improved Living Arrangements
Increased Social and Community Participation
Finding and Keeping a Job
Improved Relationships
Improved Health and Wellbeing
Improved Learning
Improved Life Choices
Improved Daily Living
When considering "does this support qualify for NDIS funding?", it's best to consider the underlying principle behind the NDIS itself – which is empowering Australians with a disability to live life to the fullest.
Unsure if you, your loved one or your client qualifies for the NDIS? You can read more at www.ndis.gov.au or call the NDIS directly 1800 800 110 to enquire about your circumstances.
To apply to join the NDIS, a prospective participant needs to meet the access requirements described above. From there they can apply for NDIS support directly by completing the NDIS Access Request Form, make an access request over the phone by calling 1800 800 110, or working with their OT, allied health, and specialist medical professionals to assist with providing the required information.
Tunstall Healthcare is a registered NDIS provider. We offer a range of assistive technologies in the Personal Response Systems category. It’s our goal to empower those living with a disability to live life on their terms. With a global track record of over 60 years in empowering people to live safely and independently in their own homes, we work with service providers, health professionals, carers and NDIS participants to create better outcomes for people living with a disability.
We provide individualised care through our assistive technology and Connected Care services, offering funded products and services through the NDIS to support the safety, independence and confidence of our clients. Through NDIS funding, we can provide personal alarm packages with optional fall detectors, hands-free blow switches, epilepsy sensors, and other peripherals and accessories. Our personal alarms connect to our 24/7 Customer Care Centre, where qualified Care Consultants can provide help and support when participants need it most.
For assistance in finding the right solution, you can request a quote or contact us on 1800 079 758 or at ndis@tunstall.com to find out what we can do to help.
Read more about Tunstall's NDIS services here at our dedicated NDIS page, and in our recent article 'The Role of Tunstall as an NDIS service provider'.
Giving participants choice and control is – and always will be – one of the core pillars of the NDIS. Where previous government schemes allocated the funding to service providers, the NDIS puts the power of choice in the hands of participants, giving them the freedom to choose not only which service provider (or providers) to use for support, but which products and services their NDIS funding should be allocated to. This allows participants to ensure their chosen supports are best meeting their needs and goals as part of their NDIS plan.
When they hear the term 'assistive technology', many people picture AI assistants or helper robots, but in reality assistive technology (AT) can be far more straightforward than this. According to the NDIS, assistive technology is: "[…] a piece of equipment that helps them to move around the home or community, communicate with others, or process information more easily." In other words, AT helps people living with a disability to:
do something more easily or safely
do something they otherwise cannot do because of their disability
Ultimately, anything from special forks which help the participant to eat, to vehicle modifications, handrails, personal alarms, or computer software may be considered eligible AT and included in the participant's NDIS Plan so long as it:
Meets the participant's needs (as part of their NDIS Plan)
Helps the participant pursue their goals
Is considered reasonable and necessary by NDIS testing standards
The NDIS has broken down Assistive Technology into four complexity levels:
Level 1 (basic): Affordable, low-risk items that can be easily sourced. Products typically have specific features that address functional limitations and are used for familiar activities in familiar environments. Examples include non-slip bath mats, replacement mobility canes/walking sticks, larger print labels, smoke alarms, doorbells, adapted grip equipment, and other similar items for daily living.
Level 2 (standard): Low- to medium-cost/risk products and services that require only minor adjustments to activities and environments. These AT products are typically available ‘off the shelf’ and require either straightforward training or minor adjustments before use. Examples include simple bathing and toileting devices, vision/hearing devices, orthotics, and home adaptations like handrails, ramps, and personal alarm systems.
Level 3 (specialised): AT is similar to Level 2 but requires either modification to cater to the needs of the user/participant, has a higher risk of injury if incorrectly set up, or the device has a greater level of usage complexity. Examples include pressure mattresses, desktop electronic magnification, power-assisted wheelchairs, non-complex prosthetics, and refreshable electronic Braille displays.
Level 4 (complex): This type of AT is either custom-made or configured uniquely for the user, comes with additional complexity of use, or carries high risk if improperly used. Examples include prosthetics and complex home modifications.
Some additional examples of AT can include:
Mobility aids like wheelchairs, scooters, walkers and canes
Hearing aids
Cognitive aids, including computer aids or electronic assistive devices
Computer software and hardware to help people with mobility and sensory impairments (e.g. screen readers, speech assistance apps)
Automatic page-turners, book holders, and adapted pencil grips
Closed captioning
Ramps, grab bars, and wider doorways
Adaptive switches and utensils
Important note: The NDIS does not fund AT items that are more appropriately funded by other government services. Participants can consult their NDIS provider to ensure their NDIS plan is appropriately aligned with their needs and support eligibility.
Not all participants will be eligible to receive assistive technology supports through the NDIS. To gain access, the AT needs to align with the participant's objectives. Here we examine the process of creating an NDIS plan with a provider.
Before accessing NDIS funding, participants and their providers work together to create an individualised NDIS plan. In this plan, participants will be asked to identify their goals, as well as their challenges. Goals can range from improving speech to feeling more independent – whatever a participant wants to achieve is up to them. What’s important about these goals is that they should help a participant feel they have direction and can achieve what they want in life.
Based on the set goals, the NDIS provider will assist the participant by prescribing the necessary supports. These will only be prescribed as needed to address the challenges and objectives of the individual. For example, someone living with a disability may want to feel more independent and become less reliant on a carer. To this end, the NDIS provider might recommend a Tunstall personal alarm that can be used to request help from outside the house when needed.
Of course, the technologies recommended should also depend on the circumstances and capabilities of the individual.
We have a more detailed guide about creating an ideal NDIS plan here: Planning for success: Developing an NDIS Plan.
The upfront cost of devices can seem intimidating at first. Thankfully, most NDIS providers (including Tunstall) offer participants flexibility in managing the funded supports in their plan.
Generally, NDIS funds can be used to, either:
buy the assistive technology outright; or
rent the assistive technology on a month-to-month basis
Beyond the participant's immediate circumstances, there are a few extra factors that may need to be considered on a case-by-case basis. These include:
Carers: When introducing assistive technology into someone's life, those integral to their day-to-day lives need to understand the tech. This means carers should be informed and comfortable with the technology and able to assist the participant if necessary.
Immediacy: While a prescribed device must help the user achieve long-term goals, it should also make an immediate difference. Assistive technology is designed to improve everyday actions and safety for the individual, so its effect should be felt right away.
Integration: When a participant is living with a cognitive disability, it is possible the introduction of assistive technology may be disruptive. Working with those in their life to find a non-invasive device and introduce it with consideration is vital.
Tunstall Healthcare offers a range of assistive technologies and personalised solutions to empower people living with a disability. We’re also a provider of NDIS supports. For assistance in finding the right solution, find out what we can do to help.
As a registered NDIS provider, Tunstall Healthcare empowers and supports people living with disabilities through our assistive technology and Connected Care solutions.
As a global leader in assistive technologies, we formulate individualised solutions for people with physical and cognitive disabilities. With our range of assistive technology and services, Tunstall Healthcare is ready and willing to help people with any ability.
With assistive technologies, anyone in Australia, New Zealand or the Asia-Pacific region with disabilities can feel confident to live their lives freely.
One of our primary solutions is a tailored alarm and monitoring package. Our personal alarms can be installed in a client’s home and activated via a small wearable pendant or alternate trigger such as blow switch. When triggered, immediate contact will be made with our 24-hour Customer Care Centre, where a Care Consultant will communicate with the client to determine the right course of action. An easy-press adaptor or button is also available for those who may struggle with motor skills, or a fall detector pendant can be worn for automatic triggering in the case of a serious or hard fall.
We actively work with allied health, care professionals and participants to develop solutions that meet their needs and help support their care and independence.
Discover how we can help you develop a tailored support plan by contacting our NDIS team on 1800 079 758 or at ndis@tunstall.com.
With the right supports in place, anyone living with a disability can thrive. The funding granted by the NDIS is an unmatched opportunity for carers, allied health and participants alike. With a tailored plan, a trusted NDIS provider like Tunstall by their side, and through the use of assistive technology, anyone living with a disability can achieve independence and live life to its fullest.