Inconsistency with noise cancelling headphone being approved for people with Autism
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
Noise cancelling headphones seem to be a common item claimed under low cost assistive technology through the NDIS for people with Autism
This time however i was rejected, this was the email received from NDIS
"After consideration of the participant's circumstances and the physio therapists report, delegate is not satisfied this request meets the reasonable and necessary criteria of the NDIS Act 2013 due to not meeting 34(1).(e) and is declined.
Rule 5.1(d) requires that supports which relate to day-to-day living costs, which are not related to a participants’ disability support needs, cannot be funded in a plan.
Noise cancellation earphones are an item that average Australians with or without a disability can purchase for daily use. This item is NOT a DISABILITY-SPECIFIC support. Whilst it may used to address sensory issues, NDIS does not fund sensory equipment as there is not enough research or evidence to suggest that this is effective and will reduce the needs of other supports in the future."
Why is it usually approved, but in this case rejected?
Is it up to the individual NDIS worker to interpret the NDIS Act however they want?
How are these decisions made?
Yours faithfully,
Sam
Thank you for your email to the National Disability Insurance Agency
(NDIA) Freedom of Information (FOI) team.
If your email relates to an FOI application made under the
Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), we will respond to
you as soon as practicable.
This email address is for applications under the FOI Act only. Our team is
unable to respond to non-FOI related enquiries sent to this email address.
Any correspondence received that is not related to an FOI request will not
be responded to or forwarded.
Please be aware: due to a high volume of requests, our ability to respond
to you in a timely manner has been affected. However, we will action your
request as soon as possible. In addition, we are currently experiencing
delays in processing FOI requests. As a result, whilst we will endeavour
to process your matter within the [1]legislative deadlines, we may need to
ask for an extension of time. We appreciate your understanding if this is
required.
The NDIA has a number of other ways to access the documents and
information that we hold. Please visit our [2]Access to
Information webpage to find out more about accessing information
through:
o The [3]myplace portal for participants
o The [4]myplace portal for providers
o The [5]Participant Information Access (PIA) scheme
o The [6]Information Publication Scheme (IPS)
You can also request data and statistics outside of the FOI Act. Please
visit our [7]Data and insights webpage page for further information.
Information about how to make an FOI request can be found on our
website: [8]Freedom of Information | NDIS. The FOI Act sets out the
criteria that must be met for a request to be considered. The request you
send us must:
o be in writing
o state that the request is an application for the purposes of the FOI
Act
o provide enough information to allow us to identify the documents you
are requesting
o provide an address for reply, either electronic or hard copy.
If you have questions about making an FOI request, or to enquire about a
current FOI request, please email us with your preferred contact method
and an FOI Decision Maker will contact you.
Should you have a query unrelated to FOI, please contact the Agency by
email at [9][email address] or via webchat at [10]NDIA Web Chat
(ndis.gov.au). Alternatively, you can also contact us by phoning 1800 800
110.
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Team
Parliamentary, Ministerial and FOI Branch
Government Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E: [11][NDIA request email]
**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT: This e-mail is for the use of the intended recipient only and
may contain information that is confidential, commercially valuable and/or
subject to legal or parliamentary privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient you are notified that any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon,
this information is prohibited and may result in severe penalties. If you
have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender immediately
and delete all electronic and hard copies of this transmission together
with any attachments. Please consider the environment before printing this
e-mail
**********************************************************************
References
Visible links
1. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
2. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
3. https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/usi...
4. https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/workin...
5. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
6. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
7. https://data.ndis.gov.au/
8. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
9. mailto:[email address]
10. https://nccchat.ndis.gov.au/i3root/
11. mailto:[NDIA request email]
Dear Sam
Freedom of Information Request: Acknowledgement
Thank you for your request of 24 October 2023, made under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), for copies of documents held by the
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
Unfortunately, we are unable to release information regarding the contents
of the scope of your request:
“Noise cancelling headphones seem to be a common item claimed under low
cost assistive technology through the NDIS for people with Autism
This time however i was rejected, this was the email received from NDIS
"After consideration of the participant's circumstances and the physio
therapists report, delegate is not satisfied this request meets the
reasonable and necessary criteria of the NDIS Act 2013 due to not meeting
34(1).(e) and is declined.
Rule 5.1(d) requires that supports which relate to day-to-day living
costs, which are not related to a participants’ disability support needs,
cannot be funded in a plan.
Noise cancellation earphones are an item that average Australians with or
without a disability can purchase for daily use. This item is NOT a
DISABILITY-SPECIFIC support. Whilst it may used to address sensory issues,
NDIS does not fund sensory equipment as there is not enough research or
evidence to suggest that this is effective and will reduce the needs of
other supports in the future."
Why is it usually approved, but in this case rejected?
Is it up to the individual NDIS worker to interpret the NDIS Act however
they want?
How are these decisions made?”
We are only able to provide documents that exist on a NDIS file. Your
scope is requesting information only.
No documents exist on our system that specifically address the scope of
your request.
To receive more specific details or further information, you will need to
get in touch with the participant’s NDIS contact or Support Coordinator.
Otherwise, you can contact the NDIS National Call Centre to discuss this
further.
Further help
Please contact us at [1][NDIA request email] if you have any questions or need
help.
We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if
you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.
Kind regards
Ankit
Freedom of Information Officer
Parliamentary, Ministerial and FOI Branch
Government Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E: [2][NDIA request email]
[3]Title: NDIS delivered by the National Disability Insurance Agency
[4]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic
The NDIA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout
Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to them and their cultures and to Elders past, present
and emerging.
[5]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags graphic
-----Original Message-----
From: Sam <[6][FOI #10790 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 11:27 PM
To: foi <[7][NDIA request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Inconsistency with noise
cancelling headphone being approved for people with Autism
[You don't often get email from
[8][FOI #10790 email]. Learn why this is
important at [9]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
Noise cancelling headphones seem to be a common item claimed under low
cost assistive technology through the NDIS for people with Autism
This time however i was rejected, this was the email received from NDIS
"After consideration of the participant's circumstances and the physio
therapists report, delegate is not satisfied this request meets the
reasonable and necessary criteria of the NDIS Act 2013 due to not meeting
34(1).(e) and is declined.
Rule 5.1(d) requires that supports which relate to day-to-day living
costs, which are not related to a participants’ disability support needs,
cannot be funded in a plan.
Noise cancellation earphones are an item that average Australians with or
without a disability can purchase for daily use. This item is NOT a
DISABILITY-SPECIFIC support. Whilst it may used to address sensory issues,
NDIS does not fund sensory equipment as there is not enough research or
evidence to suggest that this is effective and will reduce the needs of
other supports in the future."
Why is it usually approved, but in this case rejected?
Is it up to the individual NDIS worker to interpret the NDIS Act however
they want?
How are these decisions made?
Yours faithfully,
Sam
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[10][FOI #10790 email]
Is [11][NDIA request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to National Disability Insurance Agency? If so, please contact us
using this form:
[12]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
[13]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT: This e-mail is for the use of the intended recipient only and
may contain information that is confidential, commercially valuable and/or
subject to legal or parliamentary privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient you are notified that any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon,
this information is prohibited and may result in severe penalties. If you
have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender immediately
and delete all electronic and hard copies of this transmission together
with any attachments. Please consider the environment before printing this
e-mail
**********************************************************************
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[NDIA request email]
2. mailto:[NDIA request email]
6. mailto:[FOI #10790 email]
7. mailto:[NDIA request email]
8. mailto:[FOI #10790 email]
9. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
10. mailto:[FOI #10790 email]
11. mailto:[NDIA request email]
12. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
13. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Dear Sam
Thank you for your request for information.
Please find attached correspondence in relation to your request. If you
require this in a different format, please let us know.
Please contact us at [1][NDIA request email] if you have any questions or
require help.
Thank you.
Kind regards
Ankit
Freedom of Information Officer
Parliamentary, Ministerial and FOI Branch
Government Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E: [2][NDIA request email]
[3]Title: NDIS delivered by the National Disability Insurance Agency
[4]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic
The NDIA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout
Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to them and their cultures and to Elders past, present
and emerging.
[5]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags graphic
-----Original Message-----
From: Sam <[6][FOI #10790 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 11:27 PM
To: foi <[7][NDIA request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Inconsistency with noise
cancelling headphone being approved for people with Autism
[You don't often get email from
[8][FOI #10790 email]. Learn why this is
important at [9]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
Noise cancelling headphones seem to be a common item claimed under low
cost assistive technology through the NDIS for people with Autism
This time however i was rejected, this was the email received from NDIS
"After consideration of the participant's circumstances and the physio
therapists report, delegate is not satisfied this request meets the
reasonable and necessary criteria of the NDIS Act 2013 due to not meeting
34(1).(e) and is declined.
Rule 5.1(d) requires that supports which relate to day-to-day living
costs, which are not related to a participants’ disability support needs,
cannot be funded in a plan.
Noise cancellation earphones are an item that average Australians with or
without a disability can purchase for daily use. This item is NOT a
DISABILITY-SPECIFIC support. Whilst it may used to address sensory issues,
NDIS does not fund sensory equipment as there is not enough research or
evidence to suggest that this is effective and will reduce the needs of
other supports in the future."
Why is it usually approved, but in this case rejected?
Is it up to the individual NDIS worker to interpret the NDIS Act however
they want?
How are these decisions made?
Yours faithfully,
Sam
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[10][FOI #10790 email]
Is [11][NDIA request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to National Disability Insurance Agency? If so, please contact us
using this form:
[12]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
[13]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT: This e-mail is for the use of the intended recipient only and
may contain information that is confidential, commercially valuable and/or
subject to legal or parliamentary privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient you are notified that any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon,
this information is prohibited and may result in severe penalties. If you
have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender immediately
and delete all electronic and hard copies of this transmission together
with any attachments. Please consider the environment before printing this
e-mail
**********************************************************************
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[NDIA request email]
2. mailto:[NDIA request email]
4. https://intranet.ndiastaff.ndia.gov.au/h...
6. mailto:[FOI #10790 email]
7. mailto:[NDIA request email]
8. mailto:[FOI #10790 email]
9. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
10. mailto:[FOI #10790 email]
11. mailto:[NDIA request email]
12. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
13. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...