Getting assistive technology funded through the NDIS usually starts with the right evidence. A walker, a shower commode, a communication device or a powered wheelchair all go through different pathways, and the evidence the NDIA expects changes with the cost and risk of the item.
An NDIS assistive technology assessment is how that evidence gets built. A qualified therapist, most often an occupational therapist, looks at what you need to do each day, trials suitable equipment with you, and explains in writing why a specific item is the right fit for your disability and goals.
This guide covers when you need an assessment, what happens during one, what goes into the report, which NDIS forms apply, and how to request assistive technology once the evidence is ready.
What counts as assistive technology under the NDIS?
The NDIS describes assistive technology as equipment or a device that helps you complete tasks you might not otherwise be able to do because of your disability. It can support mobility, self-care, communication, leisure and independence at home or in the community.
Common categories include:
- Mobility: walking sticks, four-wheeled walkers, manual and powered wheelchairs, mobility scooters and portable ramps.
- Personal care and bathroom: shower chairs, commodes, hand-held showers, grab rails and toileting aids.
- Transfers and positioning: mobile hoists and slings, slide sheets, adjustable beds and pressure care cushions.
- Communication: text-to-voice apps, symbol boards and speech-generating devices. See our guide to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
- Daily living: modified cutlery, dressing aids, kitchen aids and adjustable-height chairs.
- Learning and access: tablets, adapted keyboards, screen readers and magnifiers.
Permanent building work such as a bathroom rebuild is a home modification, which follows its own assessment pathway. Read more in Home Modifications Assessments: What You Need to Know.
Low, mid and high cost assistive technology: what evidence you need
The NDIS groups assistive technology by cost, and the cost band decides what evidence you need. Older terms like “Level 1” to “Level 4” AT are no longer used.
| Cost band | Price | Evidence needed | Quote needed? | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low cost | Under $1,500 | None for low-risk items. Written advice for higher-risk items | No | Shower chairs, walking sticks, modified cutlery, short portable ramps |
| Mid cost | $1,500 to $15,000 | Written evidence from an AT advisor (letter, email or report) | No, an approximate cost is enough | Mobile hoists, mobile shower chairs, adjustable beds, ankle-foot orthotics |
| High cost | Over $15,000 | A full assessment from an AT assessor | Yes, generally at least one | Powered wheelchairs and seating, prosthetics, some vehicle modifications |
Low cost assistive technology examples
Low cost AT is usually bought from a store or online because it doesn’t need to be custom-made. It’s paid for from your Consumables budget, and you don’t need quotes, evidence or NDIA approval before buying a low-risk item. You do need to tell the NDIA what types of low cost AT you might need so it can be included in your plan.
Typical low cost items include:
- Walking sticks, canes and four-wheeled walkers
- Shower chairs, hand-held showers and handrails
- Modified eating utensils and dressing aids
- Screen magnifiers and text-to-voice apps
- Talking kitchen scales and washing line adaptors
The item still needs to relate to your disability, support your goals and be safe for you to use.
The exception: higher-risk items
Some items are higher risk even when they cost less than $1,500. For these, a therapist must give you written advice before you buy, even though no full assessment is needed. We recommend getting advice for any first-time AT purchase anyway. A short consult can stop you spending funding on something that doesn’t fit your body, home or routine.
AT advisor vs AT assessor: what’s the difference?
The NDIS uses two terms for the professionals who support assistive technology requests.
- AT advisor: an allied health practitioner, continence nurse, rehabilitation engineer, AT mentor or other qualified practitioner. Advisors give advice on low cost items and written evidence for mid cost items.
- AT assessor: a suitably qualified allied health professional with experience in the specific type of AT, such as an occupational therapist, physiotherapist, speech pathologist or rehabilitation engineer. Only an assessor can complete the assessment for high cost items.
Some products need a specific profession. Specialised hearing products need an audiologist, and prosthetics need a qualified prosthetist.
For most mobility, bathroom, transfer and daily living equipment, an occupational therapist can act as both advisor and assessor.
Who needs an assistive technology assessment?
You’ll likely need an assessment or written advice if you:
- Find mobility or personal care difficult: moving safely around your home, getting in and out of bed, using the bathroom, dressing or cooking.
- Need support to communicate: a speech pathologist can assess for communication aids like voice output devices, symbol boards or tablet-based apps.
- Have equipment that’s outdated, unsafe or no longer fits: an assessment confirms whether you need a replacement, an upgrade or adjustments.
- Are entering a new stage of life: starting school, moving into employment or planning to live more independently can change what equipment you need.
- Need mid or high cost AT: anything costing $1,500 or more needs written evidence, and anything over $15,000 needs a full assessment.
- Struggle to use your current AT: an assessment can include training, setup changes and accessory recommendations.
What happens during an occupational therapy assistive technology assessment?
An AT assessment is practical and hands-on. Your occupational therapist works with you, and anyone who supports you, to find the item that genuinely fits your daily life.
- Goals and information gathering. We talk through which daily tasks are hard, what you’d like to do more independently, what equipment you already use, and any reports from other professionals.
- Environment review. Assessments usually happen at home, school, work or in the community. We look at layout, access points and routines, such as how you move from bed to bathroom or prepare a meal.
- Equipment trials. Where suitable, we arrange trials with local suppliers so you can test different options. The NDIA wants to know what was trialled and why the recommended item is best. For high cost items it may ask you to trial or rent the item first.
- Measurements and documentation. For fitted or custom items, we take precise measurements, and photos with your consent, so the item matches your body and environment.
- Risk planning and training. We identify any risks with using the item and how to manage them, plus what training you or your carers need.
- Written evidence or report. We write up the recommendation in the format your cost band needs, from a short letter for mid cost items to a full assessment report for high cost items.
What goes in an NDIS assistive technology report?
An AT report is the written evidence the NDIA uses to decide whether an item meets NDIS rules. It needs to explain the item clearly and link it to your disability support needs and plan goals.
For mid cost AT, an advisor’s written evidence must cover:
- what item you need
- why it’s the best value
- how it helps with your disability support needs and plan goals
- roughly how much it costs
For high cost AT, the assessor’s report needs all of the above, plus:
- how the item will affect your other NDIS supports, such as fewer support worker hours for showering
- any previous AT you’ve used and what was trialled
- what training you need to use it safely
- the risks of using it and how they’ll be managed
- at least one quote, including delivery and installation
The NDIA may ask for a second quote if the price is higher than expected.
NDIS assistive technology forms and templates
There is no single “AT request form” a participant fills in. Instead, the NDIA publishes assessment templates that your advisor or assessor can use to make sure the evidence covers everything it needs.
The main templates are:
- General assistive technology assessment template: used for most AT, including mobility, seating, bathroom and transfer equipment.
- Continence related AT assessment template
- Nutrition and dysphagia AT assessment template
- Prosthetics and orthotics AT assessment template
- Hearing devices and technology assessment template
- Vehicle modification assessment template
- Complex home modifications assessment template
- Assistance animal and dog guide assessment templates
The templates are optional. Your therapist doesn’t have to use them, but the evidence must include all the information the template asks for. You can find them on the NDIS page on how to prepare evidence for an AT assessment.
How to request assistive technology from the NDIS
How you request AT depends on its cost band and what’s already in your plan.
Low cost AT: if your plan includes low cost AT in your Consumables budget, you can buy low-risk items directly. Higher-risk items need written advice first, which you can upload to your participant portal.
Mid cost AT:
- Your AT advisor gives you written evidence (a letter, email or report).
- If your plan already includes mid cost AT funding, you can buy the item using that evidence.
- If it doesn’t, bring the evidence to your next check-in or plan reassessment so the funding can be added.
High cost AT:
- Your AT assessor completes the assessment and gathers at least one quote.
- You upload the assessment and quotes to your participant portal, or you or your assessor email them to the NDIA.
- The NDIA reviews the evidence and decides whether to fund the item. It must approve high cost AT before it’s bought.
If you’re unsure what’s in your plan, your support coordinator, plan manager or our team can help you check.
How long is an AT assessment valid?
The NDIA usually needs a high cost AT assessment completed within the past two years. If your needs are changing quickly, it may ask for a newer report or an update.
Assistive technology assessments in South West Sydney
Zenzability’s occupational therapists complete AT assessments and written recommendations for NDIS participants across South West Sydney, including Campbelltown, Liverpool, Camden and the wider Macarthur region.
We offer:
- Mobile assessments in your home, school, workplace or community, where the equipment will actually be used
- In-clinic sessions at our Smeaton Grange clinic
- Telehealth for consultations, reviews and follow-up advice
We work with local suppliers to arrange trials, and we write evidence that matches the cost band of your item, so nothing is held up by missing information. If your AT is part of a bigger picture, we can also support NDIS occupational therapy, functional capacity assessments and bathroom planning. See Disability Bathroom Renovations: Why You Should Involve an Occupational Therapist.
Ready to get started? Make a referral or contact our team to book an assistive technology assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an assessment for low cost assistive technology?
No, not for low-risk items under $1,500. You can buy them from your Consumables budget without quotes, evidence or NDIA approval. Higher-risk items need written advice from a therapist first, even if they’re low cost.
Can an occupational therapist write my AT report?
Yes. Occupational therapists are one of the most common AT advisors and assessors, especially for mobility, seating, bathroom, transfer and daily living equipment. Some items need a specific profession, such as an audiologist for specialised hearing products.
Does the NDIS need quotes for assistive technology?
Only for high cost AT over $15,000, where at least one quote is generally needed. For mid cost AT, an approximate cost in your therapist’s written evidence is enough.
How long is an AT assessment valid?
The NDIA usually needs a high cost AT assessment from the past two years. If your needs are changing quickly, you may need an updated report sooner.
Can I trial equipment before it’s funded?
Yes, and trials are encouraged. Your therapist can arrange trials through suppliers, and for some high cost items the NDIA may ask you to trial or rent the item first.
What if my assistive technology request is declined?
You can ask the NDIA to review the decision. It’s worth talking with your therapist first, as a declined request often comes down to missing evidence that can be added.
