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How to apply for funded assistive technology
How to apply for funded assistive technology
Assistive technology contacts
If this is your first time applying for assistive technology, you should contact the assistive technology coordinator (ATC) in your region for support.
- Te Tai Raro | North – Northland and Auckland
- Email: [email protected]
- Te Tai Whenua | Central – Waikato to Whanganui-Manawatū
- Email: [email protected]
- Te Tai Runga | South – Horowhenua, Wairarapa to Wellington and South Island
- Email: [email protected].
Gather information about technology
The student and their whānau | family and a wider school team must be part of the application process from the start.
Team members could include:
- the student’s teacher
- teacher aide
- learning support needs coordinator (SENCO)
- school-based or our learning support specialists.
Decide what technology to apply for
Assistive technology allows a student to overcome specific barriers to learning.
If the technology you are considering is the same as technology used in the classroom, it is not considered assistive technology and should not be applied for.
We use the SETT (Student, Environment, Tasks, and Tools) framework to help decide what assistive technology the student needs.
How to apply
To apply for funding for assistive technology, follow the steps in the application form below.
Application forms for specialist use
Specialists can apply for assistive technology for vision and hearing, and school furniture such as specialised seating. The application forms specify who can apply.
Use these forms to apply for specialist hearing and vision technology.
Use this form to apply for specialised furniture and this information sheet for specialising seating.
Trialling assistive technology
You must trial assistive technology with a student as part of the application process.
You can use:
- equipment that is already in the school or community
- free software trials
- specialised equipment requested through your ATC for trial.
Instructions on how to record trial results are set out in the application form. Most trials take 3 to 4 weeks. This can take longer if you need to trial more than one technology option.
If the trial is not successful, your team can reassess by using the new information gathered from the trial and the SETT framework. Your team may do another trial with the same equipment, different equipment, or pause your trials.
What happens after you apply
Applications are considered by us once a month. We will email a letter with our decision to your school about 2 weeks after we have considered your application.
We may decide to approve an application fully or partially. If we partially approved, we will explain why some items were not funded.
We may also ask for additional information before a decision can be made. Your application can only be continued when you provide this information, so you should send it as soon as possible.
In very rare instances an application may be declined.
Getting the technology
If the assistive technology application was approved, the letter will outline which items have been approved.
If the student was using equipment borrowed from us, they will keep this as their assistive technology. Otherwise, your school will pay for the new technology using the approved funding that we put into your school’s bank account.
This funding will be the amount quoted in your application form.
If the cost of technology changes
Sometimes, the cost of assistive technology changes from what your school originally quoted on the application form. The item originally requested may no longer be available and the closest equivalent costs more.
If this happens, you can apply to us for extra funding. You must do this within 3 months of receiving our original approval.
To apply, fill in the assistive technology variation form.
If you are not happy with our decision
If you are not happy with our decision about your assistive technology application, or the process, you should contact your ATC first.
If you still feel your concern is not addressed, you can make a written request to your regional technology coordinator (RTC) for a review.
Reviewing your assistive technology
All assistive technology funded by us must be reviewed 6 to 12 months after your school receives it. This is to make sure the technology is working well for the student.
Schools must fill in the review form below.