NDIS Supports for Sensory Disability: Vision and Hearing Impairment Provider Guide

Sensory Disability and the NDIS

Sensory disability encompasses conditions that affect the senses of vision and hearing. Under the NDIS Act 2013 (Section 24), a person with sensory disability may access the NDIS if their impairment is permanent (or likely to be permanent) and substantially reduces their functional capacity in one or more areas of daily life.

The NDIS supports approximately 30,000 participants with vision impairment and 25,000 participants who are Deaf or hard of hearing as their primary disability. Many more participants have sensory impairment as a secondary condition alongside other disabilities — for example, older adults with intellectual disability who develop age-related hearing loss, or people with cerebral palsy who also have cortical vision impairment.

Key sensory disability categories

NDIS Supports for Vision Impairment

NDIS participants with vision impairment access supports across all three funding categories. The specific supports depend on the severity of vision loss, the participant's age, and their individual goals.

Common NDIS-funded supports for vision impairment

• Orientation and mobility training — learning to navigate environments independently using a white cane, tactile cues, and electronic travel aids
• Assistive technology — screen readers, magnification software, portable electronic magnifiers, braille displays, GPS devices, accessible smartphones
• Daily living skills training — learning adaptive techniques for cooking, cleaning, personal care, and household management with vision loss
• Community access support — support workers assisting with errands, appointments, social activities, and navigating unfamiliar environments
• Support coordination — connecting with specialist vision services, mainstream supports, and assistive technology suppliers
• Therapeutic supports — orthoptic assessment, low vision rehabilitation, occupational therapy for environmental modifications

Registration groups for vision impairment providers

The most relevant registration groups for providers supporting participants with vision impairment include:

• 0128 (Therapeutic Supports) — for orthoptists, occupational therapists, and other allied health professionals delivering vision-specific therapies
• 0117 (Development of Daily Living and Life Skills) — for providers delivering independent living skills training
• 0115 (Daily Personal Activities) — for personal care and daily living assistance
• 0125 (Community Participation) — for community access support
• 0132 (Support Coordination) — for coordinating multiple supports

NDIS Supports for Deafness and Hearing Loss

NDIS supports for Deaf and hard of hearing participants focus on communication access, assistive technology, and capacity building. The specific supports vary significantly depending on whether the participant is culturally Deaf (using Auslan as their primary language), hard of hearing (using spoken language with amplification), or deafened later in life.

Common NDIS-funded supports for hearing loss

• Auslan interpreting — access to accredited Auslan interpreters for medical appointments, NDIS meetings, education, employment, and community participation
• Hearing aids — digital hearing aids, cochlear implant processor maintenance, bone-anchored hearing aids
• Assistive listening devices — FM systems, captioning services, vibrating alarms, flashing doorbells, hearing loops
• Communication support — captioning, note-taking, lip-reading support, real-time captioning for events and meetings
• Auditory-verbal therapy — for children with hearing loss who are developing spoken language through cochlear implants or hearing aids
• Auslan tuition — for participants (and their families) learning Auslan as a primary or additional communication method

Auslan Interpreter Access

For Deaf NDIS participants who use Auslan, interpreter access is a fundamental communication right — not a luxury. The NDIS Practice Standards require that participants receive information in a way that is accessible to them (Outcome 1.4 — Independence and Informed Choice). For Deaf participants, this means providing Auslan interpreting whenever significant information is being communicated.

When to provide Auslan interpreting

• NDIS plan meetings and plan reviews
• Service agreement discussions and signing
• Support plan development and review
• Complaints processes and feedback sessions
• Medical appointments (when the participant attends with a support worker)
• Community activities where verbal communication is required
• Emergency situations (ensure the participant understands what is happening and what to do)

Interpreter standards

Auslan interpreters should be NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) certified. Providers should not rely on family members, friends, or unqualified staff to interpret for Deaf participants, except in genuine emergencies where a professional interpreter is not available. Using unqualified interpreters risks miscommunication, breaches of privacy, and power imbalances.

Assistive Technology for Sensory Disability

Assistive technology is a cornerstone of NDIS support for participants with sensory disability. The NDIS funds AT that enables participants to access information, communicate, navigate their environment, and participate in community life.

AT for vision impairment

AT for hearing loss

Orientation and Mobility Training

Orientation and mobility (O&M) training is a specialised service that teaches people with vision impairment to travel safely and independently. The NDIS funds O&M training as a capacity building support under Improved Daily Living.

What O&M training covers

• White cane skills — selecting the right cane, cane techniques for indoor and outdoor travel, detecting obstacles, changes in terrain, and doorways
• Route planning — learning specific routes (home to shops, home to workplace, home to public transport) using systematic instruction
• Public transport — independently navigating bus, train, and tram systems, including finding stops, reading timetables (using accessible technology), and boarding/alighting safely
• Road safety — crossing roads safely using auditory and tactile cues, traffic light sequences, pedestrian crossings
• Electronic travel aids — using GPS navigation, smartphone accessibility features, and other technology to supplement cane travel
• Unfamiliar environments — strategies for navigating new locations independently, asking for and using sighted guide assistance appropriately

Provider registration for O&M

Orientation and mobility specialists typically deliver services under registration group 0128 (Therapeutic Supports) or 0117 (Development of Daily Living and Life Skills). O&M specialists should hold a relevant qualification (typically a Graduate Diploma in Orientation and Mobility) and be members of the Orientation and Mobility Association of Australasia (OMAA).

Communication Support Documentation and Progress Notes

Progress notes for participants with sensory disability must capture not just what supports were delivered but how communication was facilitated throughout the session. This is a critical compliance requirement under the NDIS Practice Standards.

Documenting supports for Deaf participants

• Record the communication method used during each interaction (Auslan, written English, lipreading, captioning)
• If an Auslan interpreter was present, record their name and NAATI accreditation number
• Document what information was communicated to and by the participant — not just what staff said
• Note whether the participant appeared to understand the information provided (and how this was confirmed)
• Record any communication barriers encountered and how they were addressed
• Document the participant's communication preferences for future reference

Documenting supports for participants with vision impairment

• Record any sighted guide assistance provided (where, for how long, any challenges encountered)
• Document O&M skill development — routes practised, cane technique used, independence level
• Record assistive technology used during the session and any issues with the technology
• Document how written information was provided (large print, braille, audio, screen reader)
• Note any environmental modifications made to support the participant's vision needs (lighting adjustments, contrast improvements, obstacle removal)

Example progress notes

The NDISCompliant Notes Rewriter can help you reformat your shift notes into structured, goal-linked documentation that captures communication methods and sensory-specific details.

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