NDIS Assistive Technology Assessments
Available across Greater Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, the Gold Coast, and Toowoomba.
Assistive technology can help a participant complete everyday activities with greater safety, independence, access, and participation.
People Centred Therapies provides individualised mid-cost assistive technology assessments based on the participant’s functional needs, goals, environment, previous equipment use, and everyday circumstances.
Our occupational therapists may assess available options, arrange or complete equipment trials, identify relevant risks, and prepare a clear prescription and supporting report for the recommended assistive technology.
We can also complete minor home modification assessments where environmental changes may improve the participant’s access, safety, or independence within their home.
What Is Assistive Technology?
Assistive technology includes equipment, devices, and practical systems that help a participant complete activities that may otherwise be difficult, unsafe, or unavailable because of disability.
An assistive technology assessment examines the interaction between the participant, the proposed equipment, the activity being completed, and the environment in which the equipment will be used.
The occupational therapist considers whether the proposed solution is:
Appropriate for the participant’s functional needs
Connected to the participant’s goals
Safe for the participant and other people
Compatible with the participant’s home and community environments
Practical for the participant and their support network to use
Suitable for the participant’s current and expected needs
Supported by appropriate trials and clinical reasoning
An assessment does not begin with a preferred product. It begins with understanding the functional problem the participant is seeking to address.
When May an Assistive Technology Assessment Be Helpful?
An assistive technology assessment may be helpful when a participant requires equipment or an environmental solution to improve their safety, access, independence, or participation.
The participant has difficulty completing personal-care activities
The participant requires support with mobility or transfers
Existing equipment no longer meets the participant’s needs
The participant’s size, health, function, or circumstances have changed
Equipment is uncomfortable, unsafe, damaged, or difficult to use
Several equipment options require comparison
A formal equipment trial is required
The participant requires specialised accessories
The proposed equipment must be assessed within the home or community
Support workers or family members require training
Risks associated with using the equipment require assessment
A written report, prescription, or supporting evidence is required
Minor changes to the home may improve accessibility or safety
What Do We Consider During an Assistive Technology Assessment?
The assessment is tailored to the participant and the assistive technology being considered.
The occupational therapist may examine the following areas.
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The assessment may consider mobility, balance, transfers, strength, coordination, endurance, range of movement, posture, fine motor skills, and the physical assistance required to complete relevant activities.
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The occupational therapist may consider how vision, hearing, touch, movement, body awareness, pain, or other sensory factors affect the participant’s ability to safely use the proposed equipment.
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The assessment may consider whether the participant can understand instructions, communicate discomfort or assistance needs, and use any controls, displays, alerts, or communication features associated with the equipment.
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The occupational therapist may consider attention, memory, learning, problem-solving, judgement, decision-making, safety awareness, and the participant’s capacity to use the equipment consistently.
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Where relevant, the assessment may consider behaviours of concern, emotional regulation, impulsivity, equipment tolerance, foreseeable misuse, and any risks to the participant, carers, or other people.
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Where required, the occupational therapist may record relevant measurements, including height, weight, and limb or torso measurements, to support appropriate sizing, configuration, and prescription.
Understanding Previous and Current Assistive Technology
The occupational therapist may review the participant’s past and present use of assistive technology.
This may include:
Equipment the participant currently uses
Equipment previously trialled or prescribed
Equipment that has been successful
Equipment that was uncomfortable, ineffective, or unsafe
Changes in the participant’s functional needs
Changes in the participant’s physical measurements
Difficulties with equipment setup or maintenance
Barriers to consistent use
Training previously provided
Feedback from the participant and their support network
Environmental limitations affecting equipment use
Whether existing equipment can be adjusted or modified
Understanding what has and has not worked previously helps reduce unnecessary trials and supports a more appropriate recommendation.
Assistive Technology Trials
Where clinically appropriate, the occupational therapist may arrange or complete trials of one or more assistive technology options.
A trial allows the participant and occupational therapist to evaluate how the equipment performs during relevant activities and environments.
The trial may consider:
Whether the participant can use the equipment safely
Whether the equipment addresses the identified functional need
The level of assistance required
Comfort and positioning
Ease of operation
Equipment size and configuration
Compatibility with the participant’s home
Compatibility with transport and community environments
The participant’s preferences
Feedback from family members, carers, or support workers
Risks identified during use
Whether accessories or modifications are required
Whether another option is more suitable
The report may document each item trialled, the outcome of the trial, and the clinical reasons an option was recommended or not recommended.
What Is Included in an Assistive Technology Prescription?
Where an assistive technology item is recommended, the occupational therapist may prepare a prescription containing the information required to identify and justify the proposed solution.
This may include:
The assistive technology item type
The recommended make and model
Clinically required accessories
Relevant configuration or sizing
Adherence to applicable Australian Standards
Warranty information
Expected maintenance requirements
Average maintenance costs
The total quoted cost
Supplier details
Required occupational therapy setup hours
Required participant, carer, or support-worker training
Risks and risk-management strategies
Environmental requirements
The clinical reasons the item is recommended
Assistive Technology Safety and Risk Assessment
The occupational therapist considers foreseeable risks associated with the proposed assistive technology and how those risks may be reduced.
This may include risks related to:
Incorrect equipment sizing
Falls or transfers
Entrapment
Pressure or skin integrity
Manual handling
Equipment instability
Cognitive or communication limitations
Incorrect operation
Limited supervision
Equipment breakdown
Charging or electrical safety
Transport and storage
Environmental barriers
Behaviours of concern
Use by family members or support workers
Inadequate setup or training
The report may describe the identified risk, the circumstances in which it may occur, and the strategies required to manage it.
Behaviours of Concern and Restrictive Practices
Where relevant, the assessment may consider how behaviours of concern affect the participant’s ability to safely use the proposed assistive technology.
The occupational therapist may also consider whether the equipment could unintentionally restrict the participant’s movement, access, choice, or freedom.
Where there is a potential restrictive-practice concern, this must be considered carefully and addressed in accordance with the participant’s circumstances, relevant safeguards, and behaviour support requirements.
An assistive technology assessment does not replace a Functional Behaviour Assessment or Behaviour Support Plan.
Will the Equipment Work in the Participant’s Environment?
Assistive technology must be suitable for the environments in which it will be used.
The occupational therapist may consider compatibility with:
The participant’s home
Doorways and internal spaces
Flooring and surfaces
The bathroom and toilet
The bedroom
The kitchen and living areas
Entrances, ramps, and pathways
Vehicles and transport
Education or employment settings
Community environments
Storage and charging areas
Available support-worker space
Existing equipment
Current home modifications
Other people living in the home
Where the environment prevents safe or effective equipment use, the occupational therapist may recommend an alternative item, an environmental adjustment, or a separate home modification assessment.
Minor Home Modification Assessments
People Centred Therapies may also assess minor home modifications where a straightforward environmental change could improve the participant’s safety, accessibility, functional capacity, or independence.
A minor home modification assessment considers both the participant’s functional needs and the physical features of the property.
The report may record the quantity of work required, whether approvals or certifications are needed, the estimated budget, the proposed modification details, and any additional assessment or review required.
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The occupational therapist may consider how disability affects:
Mobility on stairs, ramps, or flooring
Bed, toilet, chair, or vehicle transfers
Lifting, carrying, and reaching
Problem-solving and executive planning
Safety and decision-making
Access to entrances and exits
Access to the bathroom and toilet
Access to the bedroom
Access to the kitchen and laundry
Use of living and dining areas
Access to outdoor areas
Personal-care activities
Household activities
Meal preparation
Recreation, study, or employment activities
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The assessment may review:
The legal ownership type
The property owner’s details
The participant’s tenancy arrangements
The remaining lease period
Previous modifications funded at the property
The construction of walls and floors
Relevant photographs and measurements
Whether the owner consents to the proposed work
Whether the participant is expected to remain in the property
Whether approvals or certifications are required
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Depending on the participant’s functional needs and the property, recommendations may relate to:
Ramps
External pathways
External doorways
Internal doorways
Flooring
Bathroom or toilet changes
Kitchen or laundry changes
Air conditioning
Electrical changes
Door automation
Minor carpentry
Other straightforward accessibility works
How Recommendations Are Justified
Where the assessment is being used to support an NDIS request, the report may address how the proposed assistive technology or minor home modification relates to:
The participant’s disability-related functional needs
The participant’s NDIS goals
Safety and independence
Social and community participation
Value for money
Expected life-stage outcomes
Whether the solution is likely to be effective and beneficial
Whether less costly alternatives were considered
Whether the item is compatible with the participant’s environment
Whether the participant and support network can use the solution safely
Whether the support is appropriately considered through the NDIS
The occupational therapist provides clinical evidence and recommendations. Decisions about whether a support is funded remain the responsibility of the NDIA.
How We Complete an Assistive Technology Assessment
Step 1: Referral and Initial Review
PCT reviews the referral to understand the participant’s functional needs, the equipment or environmental issue being considered, their location, and the purpose of the assessment.
Step 2: Participant Consultation
The occupational therapist meets with the participant and, where appropriate, relevant family members, carers, or support workers.
The clinician gathers information about the participant’s goals, everyday activities, current equipment, previous trials, concerns, and support requirements.
Step 3: Functional and Environmental Assessment
The occupational therapist assesses the functional abilities and environmental factors relevant to the proposed solution.
Relevant measurements may also be completed.
Step 4: Identification of Possible Options
The occupational therapist identifies possible assistive technology or minor environmental solutions based on the participant’s needs and circumstances.
Step 5: Equipment Trial
Where appropriate, one or more equipment options are trialled and compared.
The occupational therapist documents the outcome and reasons each option is or is not recommended.
Step 6: Risk and Environmental Review
The occupational therapist considers foreseeable risks, required mitigation strategies, environmental compatibility, and any training or supervision requirements.
Step 7: Prescription and Report Preparation
The occupational therapist prepares a report outlining the assessment findings, trial outcomes, recommended item or modification, clinical reasoning, risks, costs, supplier information, and implementation requirements.
Step 8: Delivery, Setup, and Training
Where included in the agreed service and clinically required, the occupational therapist may attend equipment delivery or installation to confirm appropriate setup and provide training to the participant, carers, or support workers.
Step 9: Review
Where required, the occupational therapist may review the participant’s use of the equipment or modification after implementation and identify whether adjustments, further training, or additional supports are needed.
What Is Included in an Assistive Technology Report?
The exact report content depends on the participant and the equipment being considered. A report may include:
Relevant history
Physical, cognitive, sensory, communication, and behavioural findings
Relevant participant measurements
Previous and current assistive technology
Equipment trial details
Trial outcomes
Reasons options were recommended or rejected
The prescribed item, make, and model
Required accessories
Applicable standards
Warranty and maintenance information
Supplier details
Quoted costs
Required setup and training
Risks and mitigation strategies
Behaviours-of-concern considerations
Restrictive-practice considerations
Environmental compatibility
Value-for-money considerations
Expected functional and life-stage outcomes
Participant feedback and agreement
Clinical reasoning supporting the recommendation
Our Approach to Assistive Technology Assessment
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We first identify the activity, barrier, or safety issue the participant is seeking to address rather than beginning with a preferred product.
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We assess whether the proposed solution suits the participant’s abilities, preferences, support network, home, and other relevant environments.
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Equipment trials help determine whether an item is safe, effective, practical, and acceptable before a final recommendation is made.
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We consider foreseeable risks and the setup, education, supervision, or support required for safe use.
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Our reports aim to clearly connect the participant’s functional needs, assessment findings, trial outcomes, environment, risks, and recommended solution.
Assistive Technology Assessment FAQs
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A participant, nominee, family member, support coordinator, treating professional, or another authorised person may submit a referral.
The participant or their authorised representative must provide appropriate consent before information is collected or shared.
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Not every assessment requires the same trial process. A trial may be recommended where equipment options need to be compared or the participant’s safety, comfort, access, or ability to use the item must be confirmed.
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Yes. Where appropriate, several equipment options may be trialled and compared.
The report may document why one option is recommended and why other options were not considered suitable.
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The occupational therapist may liaise with relevant suppliers and include available quotation, warranty, maintenance, and supplier information within the report.
The exact process depends on the item and supplier involved.
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Where clinically required and included in the agreed service, the occupational therapist may attend delivery or setup to confirm the correct configuration and provide participant or caregiver training.
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Yes. PCT may assess minor home modifications where straightforward environmental changes could improve the participant’s access, safety, functional capacity, or independence.
The suitability of the referral will be reviewed before the assessment begins.
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The current PCT service described on this page covers minor home modification reports.
Where the proposed work is complex, structural, or requires specialised design expertise, referral to an appropriately qualified specialist assessor may be required.
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An occupational therapy report provides clinical evidence and recommendations.
Funding decisions remain the responsibility of the NDIA, and a recommendation does not guarantee that the requested support will be approved.
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The time required depends on the participant’s needs, the item being considered, supplier availability, equipment trials, environmental assessment, risk considerations, quotations, and report complexity.
PCT will discuss the likely process after reviewing the referral.
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PCT provides Assistive Technology Assessments across Greater Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, the Gold Coast, and Toowoomba.
Availability depends on the participant’s location, assessment requirements, supplier access, travel considerations, and clinician capacity.
Assistive Technology Assessments Across Brisbane and Surrounding Regions
People Centred Therapies provides community-based assistive technology assessments across:
Greater Brisbane
Ipswich
Logan
The Gold Coast
Toowoomba
Assessments and trials may occur in the participant’s home, community, supplier showroom, or another relevant environment where clinically appropriate.
Service availability depends on the participant’s location, the proposed equipment, supplier and trial availability, travel considerations, and clinician capacity.
Request an Assistive Technology Assessment
Complete our referral form with information about the participant, the functional issue being addressed, any equipment or modification already being considered, their location, and the preferred contact person.
Our team will review the referral and contact the nominated person to discuss service suitability, availability, assessment requirements, and the proposed next steps.