What is the NDIS?
The NDIS provides funding to eligible people with disability to gain more time with family and friends, greater independence, access to new skills, jobs, or volunteering in their community and an improved quality of life.
The NDIS also connects anyone with a disability to services in their community.
The NDIS supports over 500,000 Australians with disability to access the services and supports they need.
What NDIS funding can be used for
The NDIS funds a range of services and supports that can assist participants to achieve their goals. These include:
- Accommodation
- Advocacy
- Aids and equipment
- Assistive technology
- Behaviour support
- Bridging the gap support
- Capacity building for parents and carers
- Clinical psychology and therapy supports
- Communication supports
- Community access supports
- Counselling and support groups
- Day programs
- Employment assistance
- Family respite services
- Home modifications
Plan Management
Individualised plans are at the heart of the NDIS. They are personalised and based on an individual’s goals, strengths, needs and preferences.
Individualised plans are developed through discussions between participants, their families and carers, and NDIS planners. Planners consider what is important to the participant in their daily life as well as their long-term goals.
Funding in a participant’s NDIS plan can be managed a number of ways:
- Agency managed: This is when a participant chooses to use the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to manage their NDIS funds. The NDIA will directly pay registered providers of relevant services on behalf of a participant.
- Self-managed: This is when a participant (or their plan nominee) manages their NDIS plan funds. The NDIS will reimburse a participant of their plan nominee directly for the NDIS supports received.
- Plan managed: This is when a participant chooses to use a plan management provider who will assist a participant with managing their NDIS plan funds. Plan management providers can purchase supports on behalf of participants from either registered or unregistered providers. This means that by using a plan management provider such as Plan Partners, participants will have access to a wider range of providers. A plan manager will receive funds from the NDIA and disburse funds on behalf of a participant to providers of other services received. Around 50% of NDIS participants use a plan manager to help them manage the financial aspects of their plans.
What is assistive technology in the ndis?
Assistive technology plays an important role in helping ndis participants to achieve their goals. It can be used to:
- Overcome or reduce the effects of a disability
- Increase independence
- Promote participation in community and social activities
- Assist with communication
- Enhance learning opportunities
- Help with employment
- Support ageing in place.
What are the types of assistive technology you can access through NDIS?
The NDIS can fund a range of assistive technology items and services to help people with disability achieve their goals. This may include:
- Mobility aids: Mobility devices are perhaps the most common and visible assistive technologies. They’ve also been around for the longest. Wheelchairs, crutches, scooters, prosthetic devices are some common types of mobility aids, while other more high-tech aids can assist people with disabilities to play sport and remain active.
- Cognitive aids: A cognitive aid helps people understand, learn, and memorise. These can include computer programmes, electrical devices, or memory aids that assist with learning and attention.
- Computer software/hardware: Computer programmes and hardware allow people to complete daily tasks they wouldn’t other be able to do. These AT’s can include screen and text enlarging assists, voice or facial recognition, captioning, screen readers, and other programmes that allow for easier day-to-day activities such as work, socialisation, or learning.
- Hearing aids: Hearing aid technology has become highly advanced and helps people every day with listening and communicating.
- Disability infrastructure: Both in homes and in public, the disability infrastructure is becoming more accessible to those who require it. Ramps, railings, lifts, larger doors, and braille signage are just some of the more common assistive technologies that exist that allow better access to public and private spaces.
- Assistive tools and alarms for those living with disabilities: Along with the tech revolution came a wave of new technologies that help everyday Australians who are living with disabilities get on with their lives in a more comfortable and independent way. Devices such as the TEQ-Secure safety pendant for example, allow for greater freedom outside the home.
How do I access assistive technology through NDIS?
If you are an NDIS participant, the first step is to discuss your needs and goals with your NDIS planner or Local Area Coordinator (LAC). They will work with you to develop an individualised plan and identify the supports you need to help you achieve your goals.
Your NDIS plan may include funding for assistive technology items and services. You can choose to use this funding to purchase items and services from either registered or unregistered providers. You can only access unregistered providers if you are using a Plan Manager such as Plan Partners.
If you choose to use a registered provider, the NDIA will directly pay the provider for the items and services you receive. If you choose to use an unregistered provider, your Plan Manager will pay the provider on your behalf.
You can find registered assistive technology providers for products such as Sofihub’s TEQ-Secure through the NDIS Provider Finder.