If you have children with a disability you may be able to access early intervention services and supports through the NDIS to help them get a head start on the equipment they need.

This program will provide translated and easy English products on disability such as National Disability Insurance Scheme information and a virtual reality learning experience to people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The program will also provide information to mainstream organisations on people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to promote inclusion.

If you are a senior Australian, you may be able to access entry-level support services to live independently and safely at home.

If you have cerebral palsy, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis or other serious injuries you may be able to access a specially trained dog through the Assistance Dogs Australia 'People with physical disabilities' program.

Assistance Dogs Australia also has programs for training dogs to help with conditions such as autism and posttraumatic stress disorder.

There are services and training available to assist you to learn how to use technology to help you stay connected.

This video includes Auslan, subtitles and a transcript.

Transcript

Hello. My name is John.

Today I'll be taking you through the area of life that relates to aids and equipment.

An assistance animal (being a dog or other animal) may be able to help you if you have a disability such as vision or hearing loss, other physical disabilities, or psychosocial disability. Assistance animals are specially trained to alleviate the effects of a person’s disability, are recognised under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and must be given full access to public facilities. The regulatory schemes governing assistance animals is the responsibility of the state and territory governments.

There are different technologies available to help you communicate whether you have problems seeing, hearing, understanding or speaking.

There are initiatives focused on providing equipment-related assistance that help make mobility easier. This can be in the form of financial support, services and products. Examples include wheelchairs to move around, vehicle adjustments to enable driving and hoists to lift you.