Assistive technology – maintenance, repairs and loss

Insurance

You must have insurance cover to at least the equivalent level of that provided by our risk management scheme. This insurance policy covers all assistive technology while it is being used for educational purposes at school as well as off-site, in transit and at home (if applicable).

You will need to add the assistive technology items to your asset register and approve the use of the assistive technology at home if appropriate.

The technology remains the school's responsibility for insurance purposes even when it is used by a student at home. Parents and caregivers cannot claim for our funded equipment through their home insurance.

Contents, liability and cyber insurance

If the item needs repairs or to be replaced

Schools need to cover low-cost maintenance, repairs or replacements of less than $100.

Contact your local assistive technology coordinator if the item needs extensive repair, maintenance or replacement.

You will need to:

• file a claim with your insurance company for items that are lost, stolen or damaged
• apply to us for funding to cover the insurance excess for items that are lost, stolen or damaged.

Schools can apply for replacement assistive technology when the items are no longer working or expired.

You should also review the assistive technology management plan. You can develop your own management plan or use our management plan template.

Regional offices

Which form to use

Repair or replace

Use the repair or replace form for:

• requesting a similar type of device
• renewals to an annual software/app subscription that has expired and is continuing to be required for learning.

Insurance information is not required for these requests.

Assessment and application

Use the assessment and application form when:

• requesting a different type of device
• requesting different software/apps.

If the assistive technology is not lost or broken but is no longer meeting the students' learning needs and a change of device is required, then use the assessment and application form.

• Keep information brief.
• Describe what issues your student is having with the current assistive technology tool(s).
• Show how the new assistive technology tool works better.
• Provide evidence for the student's most important learning goal.

More than 2 replacements due to loss or damage

If more replacements are necessary, these will be the responsibility of the school or family.

This policy does not apply to replacements required as a result of changes to a student's hearing aid system provided by Whaikaha.

Monitor and review

The school team needs to review allocated assistive technology regularly and at each transition for the student. You must:

• complete a review of the assistive technology and return the review form to us either within 6 months of the student's first use of the technology or at the next scheduled learning support plan meeting
• continue to review the technology on a regular basis to make sure it continues to meet the student’s learning needs
• notify the local assistive technology coordinator when the named student transfers to another school or leaves school and make sure that the assistive technology transfers to the new school with the student, or is returned to the Ministry of Education.