How to Write an NDIS Assistive Technology (AT) Report
An Assistive Technology (AT) report makes the case that a specific piece of equipment is the right solution for a participant, and that it is reasonable and necessary. Written well, it prevents the back and forth that delays a participant getting the equipment they need.
This guide covers how to structure an AT report, how the level of AT changes the evidence required, and how to tie the recommendation back to function and goals.
Contents
What an AT report is for
The NDIA is not funding a product, it is funding a solution to a functional problem. Your report has to show the functional limitation, why this particular AT solves it, and that cheaper or existing options were considered. Keep that logic on every page.
Match the evidence to the AT complexity level
The depth of assessment and evidence scales with the cost and complexity of the AT. Lower cost, low risk items need less justification. Higher cost or higher risk items need a full assessment, trials, and clear reasoning.
- Low cost, low risk: brief justification of need and suitability
- Mid range: assessment, consideration of options, and evidence of suitability
- High cost or complex: full AT assessment, trial of the specific item, supplier quotes, and risk consideration
Evidence the trial
For anything beyond simple items, the NDIA wants to see that the participant actually trialled the recommended AT and that it worked. Document what was trialled, in what setting, and the outcome.
- The specific item or items trialled
- Where the trial happened and for how long
- What worked, what did not, and why the recommended item was chosen
- Any training or set up the participant will need
Tie the AT to function and goals
Every recommendation should link back to a functional limitation and a participant goal. "Requires a power wheelchair" is weak on its own. Link it: the participant’s condition limits mobility and standing tolerance, the power wheelchair enables independent community access, which supports their goal of returning to study.
Reasonable and necessary, with quotes
For higher cost AT, include supplier quotes and show value for money by comparing options. State the risk of not funding the AT, and confirm it is not more appropriately funded elsewhere, such as through the health system. Our Section 34 guide covers this reasoning in depth.
This is where a drafting tool saves time. Carearoo generates the AT report in your structure, with the functional link and justification laid out, so you review and sign off rather than starting from scratch.
Frequently asked questions
Who can write an NDIS assistive technology report?
An allied health professional with relevant AT experience, most commonly an occupational therapist, and for some equipment a physiotherapist or speech pathologist.
Do I need to trial the AT before recommending it?
For anything beyond simple, low cost items, yes. The NDIA generally wants evidence that the specific item was trialled and suited the participant.
What makes an AT request get rejected?
Weak links between the equipment and function, no trial evidence, no comparison of options, and missing quotes for higher cost items.
How this guide was written
Carearoo researches and drafts its guides with AI assistance, working from the primary sources linked in the text, and a person checks every fact against those sources before it is published. Last checked 1 August 2026.
Have this report drafted in about five minutes
Carearoo drafts the report from your notes on your own Word template. You review and sign off. We'll draft one of your de-identified cases for free so you can judge the output yourself. No cost, no pitch. After that it's $99 a report.