New Zealand Spinal Trust

ASSESSMENT SERVICES

The Burwood Assistive Technology Centre offers assessments in the following areas:

Handwriting
Computer & Keyboarding
Workstation Adjustment
Augmentative Communication
Telephone
Environmental Control Systems

Assessments are available for the purpose of funding applications to the Accident Compensation & Rehabilitation Insurance Corporation (ACC), Enable Funding, Workbridge and other funding providers. Advice is also available to individuals purchasing or upgrading their own systems. Recommendations are aimed at providing functional outcomes for clients in the areas of education, employment, personal communication, safety and independence.
All assessments are performed to the standard required by the Ministry of Health’s Accredited Equipment Assessors Scheme. Team members have Accredited Equipment Assessor status in their particular areas of specialty.

What's involved in an Assistive Technology assessment?

Our first task is to find out the individual goals that a client wants to achieve. Then we identify the specific needs to be addressed through the use of assistive technology so that the client can work towards their goals. We carry out various physical and functional assessments before getting down to the brainstorming (something we are very good at) where we determine a range of options that might meet the needs we have identified. Then we try them out.
At the end of the assessment we aim to have found a solution that we can be confident will work. We provide you with a concise report that sets out what is to be achieved through assistive technology, the solution we recommend, and the training and follow up a client will require to make it successful. We obtain prices so as you will know how much it will cost, and if there are various options that will achieve a similar goal, we let you know the pros and cons of each.

Waiting Times

It is not usually possible to undertake assistive technology assessments at short notice. Depending on the number of other pending referrals clients should expect a waiting time.

Our waiting list is prioritised according to need. In general terms the order of priority is as follows:

Clients with safety concerns
Clients at risk of losing employment or withdrawing from education
Clients seeking employment or considering education
Personal communication
Updating of existing systems that are still operational

Other factors also determine waiting times, including contractual arrangements with funding providers, availability of trial equipment and the length of time a client has been waiting.