Is the assistive technology right for you?
Assistive technology needs to help you pursue your goals.
When we’re making decisions about funding assistive technology we’ll look at how your disability stops you from pursuing your goals. We’ll also look at how the assistive technology will help with your disability support needs.
For example, you might have a goal to move around your house more independently. We’ll look at all the ways you might be able to pursue that goal. Funding a wheelchair could be one way.
We need to know the assistive technology:
- is the right item for your needs
- is safe for you to use and meets Australia’s safety standards, where this is possible
- will help you do all the things you need it to
- will work in all the places that you need to use it.
There are some things to remember:
- If you set more and bigger goals it doesn’t mean we’ll fund more and bigger funded supports.
- If you set a goal about an exact type or amount of support you want, it doesn’t mean we’re obliged to fund that support or in that amount.
Learn more about setting goals.
Is the assistive technology you need value for money?
The assistive technology we fund for you must be value for money compared to other assistive technology or supports that would achieve the same outcome.
We consider the benefits of the assistive technology. We also think about what it will help you do in the long term.
We also look at:
- less expensive options
- how long the assistive technology will last
- how often the assistive technology will need maintenance or repairs
- whether the assistive technology may be cheaper to rent for the time you need it.
We check the price of assistive technologies in the market to compare the cost of the item you want to an expected price range for a similar item.
We use this expected price range to help us decide how much funding to include in your plan. We also look at how easy a device or service is to get.
This helps us give enough funding for the assistive technology you need to pursue your goals. This may be above the expected price range for some needs.
We generally fund the standard level of assistive technology you need based on your goals. For example, a wheelchair with standard specifications and features. We won’t fund extra items that don’t relate to your disability, or don’t help you pursue your goals.
You can also pay extra from your own money if you want:
- a particular brand or model of an item
- special features not related to your disability needs (for example, paint type)
- a particular design.
