NDIS and Occupational Therapy

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

If you have ever looked at the NDIS and felt confused, overwhelmed, or unsure of what you are meant to do next, you are definitely not alone. Nearly every client I support starts out feeling exactly the same. The good news is that Occupational Therapy plays a huge role in helping the NDIS make sense and in helping you get the most out of your plan.

OT is not just about assessments and paperwork. It is about getting to know you, your routines, your strengths, and the parts of everyday life that feel hard. It is about building confidence for things that matter. And it is about making sure the NDIS understands who you are as a person, not just a file number.

Here is how OT and the NDIS work together for the types of clients I support every single day.

What Occupational Therapy Does in the NDIS

Occupational Therapy focuses on helping you do the things that matter most in your daily life. That might be showering safely, preparing meals, managing emotions, joining community activities, learning new routines, improving mobility, or becoming more independent at home or school.

OTs work with children, teens, and adults across all ability levels. Within the NDIS, OT support is built around your goals and what you want to achieve in your life.

When the NDIS asks for goals, it is not looking for perfect sentences. It is looking for what makes your life meaningful.

Turn your real life into real goals

• · For some of my clients, goals look like:
• · A teenager who wants to feel in control of his upstairs and downstairs brain so he can stay engaged at school.
• · A young woman working on budgeting so she can stop impulse buying dental items due to anxiety and actually stick to her financial goals.
• · A client who wants to build daily routines that reduce loneliness and increase connection with support workers.
• · A boy who wants to learn safe community skills so he can explore the playground without fear.
• · An adult learning to cook with support so he can avoid takeout and stay healthy.
• · A dual diagnosis client who is building emotional safety plans to manage overwhelming feelings.
• · A client working on sensory regulation so shopping centres are less stressful.

The NDIS wants to understand what truly matters in your world, and OT helps turn those priorities into goals that are clear, meaningful, and personal to you.

A positive mindset makes a huge difference in achieving goals. If you give up before you even start, you rob yourself of the chance to grow. Every day is a new opportunity to chip away at the life you want to build, even if the steps feel small. OT progress can sometimes feel slow, but real change happens when we work together and match each other’s effort. You are the captain of this ship and we’ll do our best to make sure your ship is in tip top shape to stay afloat!

Assessments that tell your story

Every person is different, and the NDIS needs evidence to understand what support you need. OT assessments help paint a picture of your daily life.

Some examples from practice:
• · Functional assessments for clients living in supported accommodation to show where they need hands-on help.
• · Home and Living assessments for young people preparing for SIL transitions.
• · Sensory assessments for clients who become overwhelmed by lights, noise, or busy environments.
• · AT assessments for shower commodes, wheelchairs, long handled tools, and smart home devices.
• · Behavioural and emotional assessments for clients working through trauma, anxiety, or regulation challenges.

These reports give the NDIS real insight into what helps you stay safe, confident, and independent.

Therapy that fits your life

Not every client needs the same type of therapy. Some sessions look like exploring worlds in VR and deep breathing. Some look like washing a single spatula while sequencing each step. Some look like planning an overseas trip so a client feels prepared instead of stressed. Some look like drama class reflections. Some look like using budgeting apps to understand savings goals. Some look like exposure therapy at the local shops with your support worker.

OT adapts to the life you are living right now.

Examples include:
• · Cooking practice for clients who want to eat healthier or reduce learned dependence.
• · Community training for clients who want more independence on buses and trains.
• · Gross motor work for teens who want to build strength for sports or recreation.
• · Memory and organisational training for clients trying to juggle multiple activities.
• · Emotional regulation tools for clients managing trauma histories or big feelings.
• · Sensory planning for clients who become overwhelmed in busy or unpredictable places

Your therapy is tailored to what helps you move forward.

Assistive Technology for independence!

A lot of my clients benefit from assistive technology that makes daily life easier and less stressful.

Some examples include:
• · Smart canes and orientation support for clients with vision loss
• · Wheelchairs and commodes sized correctly for comfort and safety
• · Weighted blankets or sensory tools for emotional regulation
• · Long handled sponges or hair washers for clients wanting more privacy with personal care
• · VR programs that help with anxiety, balance, or motor planning
• · Smart home devices that support remembering routines and managing environments

Your OT works with you to trial items, request funding, and make sure everything actually fits your needs. One of the biggest challenges people face is not the equipment itself but learning how to use it properly. When assistive technology sits in a corner collecting dust, it is not because you failed. It is because no one showed you how to use it in a way that feels natural, simple, and part of your everyday life. So do not feel guilty about that shiny new gadget you

bought two years ago that has not seen the light of day. You just need the right support to make it work for you, and that is exactly what we are here for. 🙂

Support for families and support workers

I can’t stress this enough, the people around you matter! Your family matters. Your routines matter. Even your pet fish matters!!! OT does not just focus on the individual. We teach and guide the people around you so that everyone is working together.

This includes:
• · Teaching support workers how to prompt without taking over
• · Giving parents strategies to help with morning or night time routines
• · Coaching staff on sensory regulation patterns
• · Helping teams understand behaviours through a trauma informed lens

A confident support circle makes life smoother for everyone involved.

Wrap Up

At its core, the NDIS is built on one powerful belief.

Choice and Control.

OT aligns perfectly with this idea. Therapy is built around what matters most to you, not what anyone else thinks your life should look like. You get to choose your goals, choose your priorities, and work at a pace that fits you here at Choose Therapy.

Set sail!