Assistive technology, usually shortened to AT, is one of the largest and most consequential funding categories in the NDIS. From a walking frame to a custom power wheelchair, from a shower stool to a full home modification, AT shapes what an NDIS participant can do independently, safely and comfortably in their daily life.

Before AT is funded through an NDIS plan, most items require a clinical AT assessment. The assessment is what makes the difference between equipment that transforms a participant's life and equipment that ends up unused in the corner of a room because it did not suit the person or the environment.

This blog explains what an assistive technology assessment involves, the four NDIS AT complexity levels, who runs an AT assessment, and how Allied Health 2U supports the process.

What Is Assistive Technology?

The NDIS defines assistive technology broadly. It includes any equipment, device, technology or product that helps a person with disability do something more safely, more independently or more effectively.

That covers a wide range of items:

• Mobility equipment (walking frames, wheelchairs, scooters, transfer aids)
• Home modifications (grab rails, ramps, bathroom modifications, kitchen adaptations)
• Daily living aids (adaptive cutlery, dressing aids, reachers, shower seats)
• Communication technology (AAC devices, communication boards, adapted phones)
• Sensory equipment (weighted blankets, sensory swings, noise-cancelling devices)
• Adaptive computer access (switches, eye-gaze technology, adapted keyboards)
• Vehicle modifications (car hoists, hand controls, seating adaptations)
• Prosthetics, orthotics and specialised footwear
• Environmental controls (voice-activated systems, remote door openers)

AT is not limited to obvious "medical" equipment. It includes anything that supports a participant's function and independence.

The Four Levels of NDIS AT Complexity

The NDIS categorises assistive technology into four levels based on cost, complexity and risk. Understanding which level applies to a piece of AT matters because it determines what kind of assessment and evidence is required.

Level 1: Basic AT. Low-cost, low-risk, off-the-shelf items that a participant can typically source themselves without formal assessment. Examples include basic reachers, non-slip mats, standard shower stools and basic adaptive cutlery. These items are usually funded from the Core Supports budget in a plan.

Level 2: Standard AT. Items that require a simple clinical recommendation or basic assessment. Examples include standard walking frames, over-toilet aids and basic manual wheelchairs. An OT, physiotherapist or other qualified practitioner writes a short recommendation, often as part of broader therapy input.

Level 3: Specialised AT. Items that require a formal AT assessment, product trials and detailed clinical justification. Examples include custom-configured manual wheelchairs, powered mobility scooters, specialised seating and moderate home modifications. This is the level where a dedicated AT assessment appointment (or series of appointments) is typically needed.

Level 4: Complex AT. High-cost, high-risk items requiring specialist AT clinician input, comprehensive assessment, trials with the specific product, detailed justification and often multiple stakeholders. Examples include custom power wheelchairs, complex postural seating systems, complex home modifications and environmental controls. Level 4 AT assessments are often completed by clinicians with specialist AT qualifications and significant experience with the specific product category.

The level determines the depth of assessment. It also determines the type of evidence the NDIS requires in a funding submission.

Who Runs an AT Assessment?

The clinician who leads an AT assessment depends on the type of AT being considered.

Occupational Therapists lead most AT assessments in the NDIS. OT scope covers daily living equipment, seating and positioning, home modifications, sensory equipment, adaptive daily living tools, and much of the wider AT landscape. If a participant's AT need touches how they do daily activities (dressing, showering, toileting, cooking, moving around the home), an OT is usually the clinician.

Physiotherapists lead assessments for mobility equipment (walking frames, some wheelchairs, transfer equipment), orthotics and functional movement aids. Where AT relates to physical function, gait, transfers or mobility, physio expertise is often the right fit, sometimes in collaboration with OT for the environmental context.

Podiatrists lead assessments for foot orthoses, specialised footwear and lower limb equipment. For participants whose AT needs relate to their feet and lower limbs, podiatry input is essential.

Speech Pathologists lead assessments for AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) devices and communication AT. Allied Health 2U works with a trusted partner speech pathology provider for AAC assessments, coordinated through the AH2U team.

For complex participants with needs across multiple AT categories, the assessment often involves more than one clinician. That coordination is where a multi-disciplinary allied health provider adds value over a single-clinician service.