The right aids and equipment will help your child to perform personal care activities such as washing, sitting, moving, eating, positioning, sleeping and toileting more effectively.
Mobility is an important consideration. Your child may need specialised car seats, strollers, wheelchairs, standing frames, mobility scooters, ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), prosthetics and more. Items such as adapted bicycles, switch-operated toys and talking books can help with your child’s development.
Aids and equipment will also help to protect those caring for your child by providing safe and ergonomically-effective ways of assisting your child. You may need to look at car and/or home modifications so that your child can be transported and/or accommodated safely.
Aids and equipment need to be prescribed by a therapist. A therapist will assess your child and prescribe suitable aids and equipment. If there is a particular aid or piece of equipment that you think would benefit your
child, you can also suggest this to your therapist.
If your child is not eligible to participate in the NDIS, your therapist may apply for equipment through the Community Aids and Equipment program (CAEP). If you don’t yet have a therapist you can ask your GP to refer you directly to your local CAEP service, possibly located at your local hospital or health service.
Some suppliers of aids and equipment are detailed below but you can find more through your doctor, medical or health practitioner, peer support networks and the internet. The NDIS website also provides a full list of NDIS-registered providers of aids and equipment.
Useful Contacts
- Independent Living Centre WA
- K-equip
- TADWA
- Ability Centre
- Rocky Bay
- Senses Australia
- Therapy Focus
- VisAbility
For more information, contact one of our friendly Family Support Officers, all of whom have personal experience of raising a child with additional needs.
