NDIS Assistive Technology Explained: What It Is and What Gets Funded

What Is NDIS Assistive Technology?

If you or someone you care for is living with a disability, the term "assistive technology" is likely to come up at some point - in plan meetings, conversations with a support coordinator, or when reviewing what a plan covers. It is one of the most practically useful parts of the NDIS, and understanding how it works can make a significant difference to what ends up funded.

The NDIS defines assistive technology (AT) as any equipment or device that helps a person do something they cannot do - or cannot do easily - because of their disability. This covers an enormous range: wheelchairs, walking frames, hearing aids, screen readers, communication devices, personal alarms, GPS trackers, fall detection systems, braille displays, and more.

The underlying principle is straightforward. If a disability creates a barrier to participation, independence, or safety, and a piece of equipment can reduce that barrier, it may qualify as assistive technology under the NDIS.

To be funded, AT must meet the NDIS "reasonable and necessary" test. That means it must:

• Be directly related to a participant's disability
• Support the goals in their NDIS plan
• Represent value for money
• Not be something that would be needed regardless of disability
• Not be more appropriately funded through another system (such as Medicare or private health insurance)

AT that meets these criteria can be included in a participant's plan and purchased using their AT budget.

Who Can Access NDIS Assistive Technology?

NDIS assistive technology is available to NDIS participants - people who have been assessed as having a permanent and significant disability and have an approved NDIS plan. To access AT funding, the participant's plan must include an Assistive Technology budget. This is not automatic: AT needs must be identified during the planning or plan review process and linked to specific goals in the plan.

One important age boundary: the NDIS is available to people under the age of 65. Australians aged 65 and over who need equipment and device support have access to the Support at Home program, which has its own AT funding pathway (the AT-HM scheme). If you are supporting someone approaching 65, it is worth understanding which program applies to their situation before requesting AT in an NDIS plan. You can find more information about the aged care funding pathway on the Home Care Package page.

For active NDIS participants under 65, a support coordinator, local area coordinator (LAC), or plan manager can help identify AT needs and ensure they are properly documented ahead of a plan review.

What Does the NDIS Fund Under Assistive Technology?

NDIS AT spans many categories. The NDIS uses the ISO 9999 classification system to organise assistive technology into product categories, but in practical terms the funding is guided by a participant's disability-related needs and the goals in their plan, not a fixed list of approved products.

The categories most relevant to communication, cognitive support, and personal safety include:

Communication and Information Equipment

This category covers devices that help people with communication difficulties make contact with others, access information, or complete daily tasks. It includes simplified phones and call devices designed for people who cannot use a standard smartphone due to cognitive, intellectual, or physical disability - as well as AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices for people with limited or no verbal communication.

Assistive Products for Personal Care and Safety

This category covers equipment that keeps people safe in their home and community. It includes fall detection devices, personal alarms, SOS alert systems, and GPS tracking devices for participants who may be at risk of wandering due to a cognitive or intellectual disability. Devices that combine multiple safety functions - fall detection, GPS, and emergency calling - typically fall under this category.

Vision Equipment

This covers aids for people with vision impairment, including screen readers, electronic magnifiers, braille displays, and devices that can be labelled or configured with braille to support independent use.

Hearing Equipment

Assistive listening devices, amplified phones, and alerting systems for people with hearing loss or deafness.

Mobility Aids

Wheelchairs, scooters, walking frames, transfer aids, and other equipment supporting movement and physical independence.

These categories are not mutually exclusive. A single device may qualify under more than one category depending on its functions and how it addresses a participant's needs. A combined communication and GPS safety device, for example, may be funded under both Communication and Information Equipment and Assistive Products for Personal Care and Safety.

What the NDIS Does Not Fund Under Assistive Technology

Understanding what the NDIS does not fund is just as useful as knowing what it does. AT funding requests are declined when:

The item is mainstream technology. Standard smartphones, tablets, and computers are generally not funded by the NDIS because they are considered everyday items that most Australians use regardless of disability. However, if a mainstream device has been specifically adapted or configured for disability use - or if a standard device cannot meet the participant's needs and a purpose-built alternative is required - the NDIS may fund the purpose-built version.

The item is not disability-related. If the need for a device would exist regardless of disability, the NDIS is unlikely to fund it. The link between the disability, the functional limitation, and the device must be clear.

The item is available through another funding source. If a device is available through Medicare, private health insurance, or another government program, the NDIS expects those pathways to be accessed first.

The item does not represent value for money. The NDIS will not fund AT that is significantly more expensive than a comparable product that meets the same needs.

This distinction between mainstream technology and purpose-built AT is important context for KISA devices. KISA Companion and KISA Personal Alarm are purpose-built for people with specific disability-related needs - they are not adaptations of standard consumer devices, and they address needs that a standard smartphone cannot meet.

Low, Mid and High Cost AT: Why the Tier Matters

The NDIS separates assistive technology into three cost tiers. Which tier a device falls into determines how it is accessed - and how long the process takes.

Low-cost AT (under $1,500)

Low-cost AT is the simplest and fastest to access. No formal AT assessment is required and no occupational therapist's report is needed. Once a participant has an approved NDIS plan that includes an AT budget, they can purchase low-cost AT directly from a registered NDIS provider. Payment comes from the AT budget and is managed by the plan manager.

In many cases, low-cost AT can be actioned between plan reviews rather than waiting for the next formal review. This makes it particularly practical for participants who have an identified need but are mid-plan.

Mid-cost AT ($1,500 to $15,000)

Mid-cost AT typically requires input from an AT advisor or occupational therapist (OT). The advisor will assess the participant's needs, recommend the appropriate device, and provide documentation to support the plan review. A formal quote from a registered provider is usually required before the AT can be approved.

The plan review process is the main pathway for mid-cost AT. It is worth raising the AT need well in advance of the review so there is time for assessment and quoting.

High-cost AT (over $15,000)

High-cost AT requires a full AT assessment, typically conducted by an OT with AT specialisation. The assessment determines the most appropriate device and documents the clinical justification for the funding request. This must be completed and formally included in the participant's plan before any purchase can proceed.

Why this matters for KISA Companion

At $1,248, the KISA Companion sits within the low-cost AT tier. This is significant: eligible NDIS participants can access it without a formal assessment, without an OT report, and in many cases without waiting for a plan review. The process is considerably simpler and faster than for mid or high-cost items - which is one reason low-cost AT is often the first entry point for participants and their families.

The Role of AT Assessors and Support Coordinators

Navigating NDIS AT funding is rarely something participants do alone. Several roles exist to help.

Support coordinators help participants implement their plans, including identifying AT needs and connecting them to appropriate providers. If a participant's plan includes Support Coordination funding, this is usually the first point of contact for AT questions.

Local Area Coordinators (LACs) are NDIA-contracted support workers who assist participants without Support Coordination funding. They can help identify AT needs ahead of a plan review and guide participants through the process.

AT advisors and occupational therapists conduct the formal assessments required for mid and high-cost AT. An OT will assess the participant's functional needs, trial potential devices where appropriate, and produce a written recommendation that supports the funding request at plan review.

Plan managers handle the financial administration for plan-managed participants. When AT is purchased, the registered provider invoices the plan manager, who processes the payment from the AT budget. For agency-managed participants, payment goes directly from the NDIA to the registered provider via a service booking in the myplace portal. For self-managed participants, the participant pays the provider directly and claims reimbursement from the NDIA themselves.

For low-cost AT under a plan-managed arrangement, the support coordinator and plan manager are often the only two roles involved. The participant identifies the need, the support coordinator confirms it aligns with plan goals, the provider supplies a quote, and the plan manager processes the purchase.

Communication and Safety Devices as NDIS Assistive Technology

For NDIS participants with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, acquired brain injuries, or cognitive conditions affecting communication and safety, a purpose-built device can support goals across multiple areas at once.

The communication need in this group is specific. A standard smartphone is too complex - too many screens, too many steps, too many opportunities for error. For someone who struggles with sequencing, fine motor control, or abstract navigation, a simplified device with large physical buttons pre-set to trusted contacts is not just more convenient - it may be the only option that works independently.

The safety need is equally real. Participants with cognitive or intellectual disabilities may not be able to recognise an emergency, know how to respond to a fall, or communicate their location if they become disoriented. A device with automatic fall detection, GPS tracking, and a dedicated SOS function addresses these risks in a way that a standard phone cannot.

The KISA Companion was designed for exactly this group. It has no screen, no keypad, and no internet connection. It has large tactile buttons that can be pre-programmed for up to 10 trusted contacts, labelled with text, photos, or braille to suit the individual user. Built-in features include GPS tracking with real-time location alerts, automatic fall detection, an SOS button that connects directly to a nominated contact, and medication and task reminders. Battery life is up to three days on standby.

KISA Companion can be funded under both the Communication and Information Equipment and the Assistive Products for Personal Care and Safety categories, depending on which goals are reflected in a participant's plan. In practice, support coordinators often document it under both categories when a participant has needs in both areas.

KISA has been a registered NDIS provider since 2014 (Registration No. 96153614) and can supply quotes, product specifications, and supporting documentation for plan managers and support coordinators on request.

How to Get AT Included in Your NDIS Plan

If you are approaching a plan review - or supporting a participant who needs assistive technology - here is how the process typically works from start to finish.

Step 1: Identify the functional need

Start with the disability-related barrier, not the device. What tasks does the participant struggle with because of their disability? Making phone calls? Navigating safely in the community? Managing daily routines without prompting? Identifying the specific functional limitation is the foundation of a successful AT request.

Step 2: Connect the need to a plan goal

NDIS funding is goal-driven. Every AT request must tie back to a goal in the participant's plan. A communication device supports goals like "maintaining relationships with family" or "accessing the community safely and independently". A safety device supports goals like "living as independently as possible" or "managing daily risks related to my disability". If the goal is not already in the plan, it may need to be added at the next review.

Step 3: Speak with your support coordinator or LAC

Raise the AT need with the support coordinator or LAC as early as possible before a plan review. They can document the need, confirm it aligns with existing goals, and advise on whether an AT assessment is required based on the cost tier of the device being considered.

Step 4: Get a quote from a registered provider

For low-cost AT, a quote from a registered NDIS provider is generally sufficient documentation. For mid and high-cost AT, a formal OT assessment and written recommendation are also required. KISA can provide quotes and supporting documentation for plan managers and support coordinators, including product specifications and information on which AT categories KISA devices qualify under.

Step 5: Include AT in the plan (or action it between reviews)

Mid and high-cost AT must be formally included in the participant's plan at a plan review or plan reassessment. Low-cost AT is more flexible - in many cases it can be actioned between reviews if the plan already includes an AT budget and the support coordinator confirms the need aligns with current goals. Speak with the plan manager to confirm the correct process for the specific plan.

Step 6: Purchase and claim through the AT budget

How payment works depends on how the participant's plan is managed. The NDIS has three plan management types, and KISA works with all of them - participants confirm their plan management type during the purchase process.

Agency-managed (NDIA-managed): The NDIA pays registered providers directly. A service booking must be set up in the myplace portal before the purchase proceeds. Because agency-managed participants can only use registered NDIS providers, KISA's registration (No. 96153614) is a requirement that is already met.

Plan-managed: A plan manager handles the financial administration. The provider invoices the plan manager, who processes the payment from the AT budget. Participants do not need to pay upfront or seek reimbursement - the plan manager handles it directly.

Self-managed: The participant manages their own NDIS funds. They pay the provider directly and then claim reimbursement from the NDIA through the myplace portal. Self-managed participants have the most flexibility - they can use any provider, registered or not - and often find the process faster as a result.

Frequently Asked Questions

What comes under assistive technology in the NDIS?

NDIS assistive technology covers any equipment or device that helps a person with disability do something they would otherwise struggle with because of their disability. Categories include mobility aids, communication devices, vision and hearing equipment, and assistive products for personal care and safety. To qualify, AT must be directly related to a participant's disability, support the goals in their plan, and pass the NDIS "reasonable and necessary" test.

What is low-cost assistive technology under the NDIS?

Low-cost AT is any assistive technology item priced under $1,500. It does not require a formal AT assessment or occupational therapist's report - participants can purchase it directly from a registered NDIS provider using their AT budget. It can often be actioned between plan reviews, making it the fastest category to access. KISA Companion, priced at $1,248, falls within this tier.

Can I get a communication device funded through the NDIS?

Yes. Communication devices fall under the "Communication and Information Equipment" category of NDIS assistive technology. The device must address a disability-related communication need and be linked to a goal in the participant's plan. Standard smartphones are generally not funded because they are considered mainstream technology - but purpose-built devices designed for people with intellectual or cognitive disabilities are a different matter, and may qualify under this category.

Does NDIS fund personal alarms and GPS trackers?

Yes. Personal alarms and GPS trackers for people with disability can be funded under the "Assistive Products for Personal Care and Safety" category. They are most commonly funded for participants with cognitive disabilities who are at risk of falls or wandering, or who cannot reliably call for help in an emergency using a standard device. The AT must be linked to disability-related safety needs in the plan.

Can I access AT funding outside of a plan review?

For low-cost AT (under $1,500), yes - in many cases. If the participant's current plan already includes an AT budget and the support coordinator confirms the need aligns with existing goals, low-cost items can often be purchased without waiting for the next plan review. Speak with the plan manager to confirm what the current plan allows. For mid and high-cost AT, a plan review or reassessment is typically required.

What is the difference between NDIS and Support at Home for AT funding?

The NDIS covers Australians under 65 with permanent and significant disability. Australians aged 65 and over access the Support at Home program, which has its own AT funding pathway - the AT-HM (Assistive Technology and Home Modifications) scheme. The two programs are separate and have different eligibility rules, funding structures, and processes. If you are supporting someone who is approaching 65 or has recently turned 65, it is important to confirm which program applies before requesting AT funding.