NDIS Funding for AAC Apps and iPads: What Changed in October 2024
If someone in your life uses an AAC app to communicate, a procedural update from October 2024 is worth getting across. The NDIS clarified exactly what evidence is required when purchasing these apps and the devices they run on - and getting this wrong is one of the more common reasons orders get held up.
A quick note on AAC apps
AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) apps help people who have difficulty speaking to express themselves - typically running on an iPad or similar device. For many NDIS participants, this isn't a convenience item. It's their primary means of communication, which makes delays in replacing or updating the technology genuinely disruptive.
Two ways to demonstrate purchase approval
Before buying a new device or app, you need to show one of the following:
- A Replacement Supports Approval Letter from the NDIS. This is a formal letter confirming approval for your specific purchase - you hand it to your plan manager or provider when placing the order.
- Your NDIS plan PDF, with the item listed as a stated support. A stated support means the NDIS has explicitly agreed to fund that particular item for you. If it appears in your plan this way, the plan document alone is enough.
Why the clarification was needed
The funding category itself hasn't changed - AAC apps and iPads were already fundable before October 2024. What changed is the documentation requirement. Without clear rules, plan managers and providers were applying inconsistent standards, and participants were caught in the middle. The update closes that gap.
Working out which pathway applies to you
Pull up your current plan PDF first. Search for the specific device or app - if it's listed as a stated support, you already have what you need.
If it's not there, you'll need a Replacement Supports Approval Letter. Your application will be stronger if you include a detailed quote covering the exact products and costs. Our NDIS Ordering Tool lets you build that quote and download it ready to attach to your application.
Your Support Coordinator or LAC can also help you put the application together if you're not sure what the NDIS needs to see.
Read more
- Approved for an NDIS Communication Device? Here's What That Actually Means - what your approval actually covers, and why an iPad bundle requires a Replacement Support application even when funding is in your plan.
- Buying AAC Apps with NDIS Funding - step-by-step purchase process for self-managed, plan-managed, and agency-managed plans.
- NDIS Replacement Support Applications: How Delegates Assess Them - the four-criteria assessment framework and a downloadable Decision Guide for Speech Pathologists.
Questions?
Call us on 1300 088 222 or email support@assistivetech.com.au - we deal with this process regularly and can point you in the right direction.
