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NDIS Low Level Assistive Technology.

If you are an NDIS participant, you may have encountered funding in the core budget of your NDIS plan something called Low Level Assistive Technology. Assistive technology can help us to improve our independence in daily tasks and may include items such as shower chairs, medication reminding devices, emergency/falls pendants, speech to text software, and adaptive kitchen equipment.

The NDIS has guidelines as to what can be purchased with this low-level assistive technology funding. The items must meet the reasonable and necessary criteria, relate to your NDIS registered disability, is a low-risk item, and costs under $1500 for general items, or under $750 for an electronic device. If you are uncertain if an item can be purchased through this funding in your NDIS plan, discuss this with your Occupational therapist or Allied Health Professional.

The NDIS do not typically fund items that everyone may need in their day-to-day life such as heating and cooling devices, or laptops, considering these to be ‘mainstream items’. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NDIS has introduced more flexibility regarding what can be purchased; items such as fitness equipment and tablets will now be considered if it meets the above conditions.
The NDIS has guidelines which outline items and features of items they may or may not approve, therefore it is best to get a letter of recommendation from your therapist to support you, when purchasing anything that may be considered a mainstream item. Further information about this can be found on the NDIS website (links below).

Additionally, software such as mental health mobile applications or subscriptions may be considered, however they need to be recommended by your Allied Health Professional, and specifically included in your NDIS plan.

Specific information regarding Low Level Assistive Technology, and the NDIS definition of “low-cost technology”, “low risk level”, and whether an item can be purchased using your core budget, can be found in the below links.

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