The NDIS has been through a lot of change over the past two years, and it can be genuinely hard to keep track of what's different, what's coming, and what it all means for your funding. If assistive technology is part of your plan — or you think it should be — this article is for you.
We've focused specifically on what affects AT funding, as at May 2026. We'll cover what has already changed, what's still being worked out, and five practical things you can do right now.
Important: NDIS policy changes regularly. The information in this article reflects our understanding as at May 2026. Always verify current rules at ndis.gov.au or by calling the NDIS on 1800 800 110 before making decisions based on this article.
What's Already Changed: Budgets and Funding Periods
From May 2025, some NDIS supports shifted to quarterly budget releases. This means that instead of having access to a full year's worth of funding from day one, some budgets are released in quarterly instalments throughout the plan period.
This change affects Community Participation (Social, Community and Civic supports) and some Capacity Building supports.
The Important Exception: AT Budgets Are Released in Full
Assistive technology (Capital Supports) budgets are still released in full at the start of your plan period. This has not changed. If your plan includes funding for a wheelchair, communication device, or other AT, that money is available to you from the moment your plan is approved — you do not need to wait for quarterly releases.
This distinction matters. If someone tells you that your AT funding is being held back due to quarterly releases, that's worth querying with your plan manager, LAC, or the NDIS directly.
Unspent AT Funds: Use Them or Lose Them
One thing that hasn't changed — and is worth understanding clearly — is how unspent AT funds work at plan renewal. Unspent AT funding does roll over within a plan period if you don't spend it all at once. But when your plan is renewed, unspent Capital funds do not carry over into the new plan.
This makes timing important. If you're approaching a plan review and have unspent AT funding, talk to your occupational therapist or support coordinator about whether there is equipment you need that could be purchased before the plan ends.
What's Coming: The I-Can Support Needs Assessment
From July 2026, the NDIS will begin rolling out a new assessment tool called the I-Can Support Needs Assessment. This replaces the allied health functional assessments that have been used to help determine overall support needs and plan budgets.
The I-Can assessment is structured around what you can and can't do independently across key areas of daily life — things like getting around, communicating, managing personal care, and participating in the community. The NDIA uses this information as part of the planning process to work out what level of support a participant needs overall.
What the I-Can Assessment Does NOT Do
This is the part that causes the most confusion, so it's worth being clear: the I-Can assessment does not replace the OT or speech pathologist reports that justify specific AT items.
If you need a piece of AT — say, a powered wheelchair, an AAC communication device, or a hospital-grade bed — you will still need a report from a qualified therapist explaining why that specific item is appropriate for your needs, how it will help you achieve your goals, and why lower-cost alternatives aren't suitable. The I-Can assessment is about overall planning; it does not approve individual pieces of equipment.
Your AT justification reports from OTs and speech pathologists remain just as important as they have always been.
When Will This Affect You?
The I-Can rollout is being phased in from July 2026. The NDIS will contact participants ahead of their plan review to explain the process. If your plan review isn't due until 2027 or later, you may not encounter the I-Can assessment for some time.
The New Planning Framework
Alongside the I-Can assessment, the NDIS is consulting on changes to how plans are structured and reviewed more broadly. This includes how plans are written, how budgets are presented, and how plan reviews are triggered.
As at May 2026, the details of these changes are still being finalised and consulted on. The NDIS has committed to contacting participants ahead of any changes that affect their plan. We will update this article as more information becomes available.
Budget Reductions: What's Actually Affected
There has been a lot of concern — and some confusion — in the community about funding reductions. Here's what we know.
Some participants have seen reductions in their Community Participation supports (Social, Community and Civic Activities) — in some cases by up to 50%. Capacity Building supports have also been reduced for some participants, by around 10% in many cases.
These reductions are real and have been distressing for many people. But it's important to be clear: AT (Capital) budgets are not included in these reductions. Assistive technology funding is determined by individual need, not across-the-board cuts. If your AT budget seems lower than expected at your next plan review, this should be queried — it may reflect a reassessment of your AT needs rather than a general reduction, and you have the right to ask for a review if you disagree.
Thriving Kids: A New Pathway for Young Children
If you have a young child aged 0–8 with developmental concerns who doesn't yet have an NDIS plan, a new program called Thriving Kids may be relevant. This program was introduced to provide earlier support without requiring a full NDIS eligibility assessment.
Thriving Kids may fund some early AT — for example, communication apps or devices for children with emerging communication needs — through a separate pathway from the standard NDIS process.
Contact your local Early Childhood Partner (you can find yours through the NDIS website) or call the NDIA to ask whether Thriving Kids might apply to your child's situation.
Provider Registration Changes
From 2025 onwards, more AT providers are required to be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. This is part of a broader push to improve quality and accountability.
In practical terms, this may affect which suppliers you can purchase AT from, depending on how your plan is managed:
- Agency-managed plans must use registered providers.
- Plan-managed plans have more flexibility and can often use unregistered providers, but this is worth confirming as rules evolve.
- Self-managed plans have the most flexibility.
If you have a preferred AT supplier, it's worth checking with them whether they are registered or plan to become registered. Don't assume — some smaller or specialist suppliers may not have gone through the registration process.
What Has NOT Changed for AT
Amid all the reform noise, it helps to know what's staying the same.
Low-cost AT (under $1,500): Still purchased from your Core Supports budget. No AT assessment or OT report is required. You can buy these items as you need them.
Mid-cost AT ($1,500–$15,000): Some supporting evidence is needed — typically a report from an OT or speech pathologist explaining the recommendation. This doesn't need to be a lengthy document, but it does need to be there.
High-cost AT (over $15,000): A full AT assessment is required, usually led by an OT and potentially a specialist (for complex seating, communication, or environmental controls). The process is thorough but exists to make sure you get the right equipment.
Trial before purchase: For complex or expensive AT, trialling the equipment before committing is still strongly recommended. Your OT can help arrange this. The NDIS expects that you've had an opportunity to try AT before purchasing, particularly for high-cost items.
Registered vs unregistered providers: Depending on your plan management type, you can still use either — but confirm this with your plan manager given the registration changes described above.
5 Practical Steps to Take Right Now
You don't need to wait for all the changes to be settled before doing something useful. Here's what's worth doing now.
1. Check your current AT budget and what's left. Log into the NDIS myplace portal or ask your plan manager for a current statement. If you have unspent AT funding and your plan is ending in the next few months, get moving on any equipment you've been putting off.
2. Start the assessment process early if you need new AT. OT wait times in many parts of Australia are long — sometimes months. If you know you need a new assessment for AT, book now rather than waiting until closer to your plan review.
3. Ask for a plan review if your AT needs have changed significantly. If your condition has changed, your equipment has broken down, or your needs are genuinely different from when your plan was written, you can request an unscheduled plan review. Your LAC or support coordinator can help with this.
4. Keep records of your AT needs for the I-Can assessment process. When the I-Can assessment comes around, it will ask about what you can and can't do independently. Keep a note of how your disability affects your daily life, what equipment you use, and what tasks are difficult or impossible without support. This information will help the assessor understand your situation accurately.
5. Stay informed directly from the source. The NDIS website (ndis.gov.au) has a dedicated page on the reforms, and you can subscribe to updates. You can also call 1800 800 110 to speak with someone at the NDIA, or ask your LAC or support coordinator to walk you through what the changes mean for your specific plan.
The Bottom Line
The most important thing for most NDIS participants to know about AT in 2025–2026 is this: your AT funding is still there, it's still released in full, and the basic rules about what requires an assessment haven't changed. The reforms affecting quarterly releases and budget reductions are largely about community participation and capacity building — not Capital Supports.
The I-Can assessment is coming, but it won't replace your OT's role in justifying specific AT items. And there's still time to get the most out of your current plan before the new framework fully kicks in.
If you're unsure about your specific situation, the best thing you can do is talk to your OT, your plan manager, or your LAC. And if you need help figuring out what assistive technology might suit you, Eazilee's free recommendation tool is a good starting point.
This article reflects our understanding of NDIS policy as at May 2026. NDIS rules and programs change regularly — always verify current information at ndis.gov.au or by calling the NDIS on 1800 800 110. This article is general information only and does not constitute financial, legal, or disability services advice. For advice about your individual plan, speak with your LAC, support coordinator, or a registered NDIS planner.