AI assistive technology examples for the NDIS

This post helps you understand how to use everyday artificial intelligence tools to assist with daily tasks. You will learn how to use these tools for reading, writing, planning and remembering. You will also learn how to check if your funding can cover these tools.

When looking for AI assistive technology examples for the NDIS, it helps to start with everyday software. Many people use artificial intelligence every day without realising it. When you use a smartphone to predict the next word you want to type, or when you ask a smart speaker to set an alarm, you are using basic forms of this technology. For people with disability, these tools can do much more. They can act as digital assistants to help with tasks that might otherwise take a long time or cause frustration.

These mainstream software options can support your independence. These are not specialised medical devices. Instead, they are everyday programs that can help you manage your schedule, understand long documents, write emails and organise your thoughts. Using these tools can help you build your skills and manage your daily life with more confidence.

How to use AI for reading and understanding

Reading long documents, reports or letters can be tiring and difficult. You can use an AI tool to help you understand complex text. To do this, you copy the text of a long document and paste it into the tool. You then ask the tool to give you a short summary of the main points in plain language.

This is useful for reading service agreements, newsletters or long emails. You can ask the tool to list the key dates or the main actions you need to take. This helps you get the information you need quickly without having to read every word. You can also ask the tool to explain difficult words or concepts in a simpler way. To make this work well, you can read about how to set your AI's rules once so it always answers in the format you prefer.

How to use AI for writing and communication

Writing emails, messages or letters can sometimes feel overwhelming. You might know what you want to say, but you might find it hard to organise your thoughts into sentences. An AI tool can help you draft these messages. You can type a few rough notes or bullet points about what you want to say, and ask the tool to write a polite email based on those notes.

This helps you communicate clearly with service providers, support coordinators or businesses. You can ask the tool to change the tone of your writing to make it more formal or more friendly. You can also paste an email you have written and ask the tool to check the spelling and grammar. This gives you more control over your communication. For the best results, you can ask for a brief, not a chat to get a clear draft straight away.

How to use AI for planning and remembering

Organising a daily routine or planning a project can take a lot of mental energy. You can use an AI tool as a planning assistant. For example, you can tell the tool what tasks you need to do and ask it to create a step-by-step schedule. You can tell it what times you prefer to eat or rest, and it will build those breaks into your day.

This is also helpful for breaking down large, complicated tasks into smaller, manageable steps. If you need to clean your kitchen or prepare for a meeting, you can ask the tool to list the steps in order. This helps you focus on one small task at a time instead of feeling overwhelmed by the whole job. You can also ask the tool to suggest reminders you should set on your phone to keep yourself on track.

How to check the results and keep control

AI tools are helpful, but they make mistakes. They can sometimes write things that are incorrect or do not make sense. Because of this, you must always check the work the tool produces. Read through the text carefully before you send an email or use a schedule that the tool has created.

Make sure the information is accurate and matches what you wanted. If the tool has summarised a document, double-check the important details like dates, times or prices against the original text. You are the one in charge of the tool. If the draft is not right, you can ask the tool to change it, or you can edit the text yourself. This approach keeps you in control of the final output.

Understanding funding and your NDIS plan

Whether you can use your NDIS funding to pay for AI software or devices depends entirely on your individual plan. Every participant has a different plan with different goals and budgets. The NDIS does not automatically fund every digital tool or subscription.

If you want to use your funding for these tools, you need to check how your plan is managed. If you are self-managed or plan-managed, you have more flexibility in how you use your budget. You should speak with your support coordinator, plan manager or local area coordinator before making a purchase. This helps you avoid spending money your plan cannot cover.

Next steps for your tasks

To start using these tools, choose one simple task you want to do, such as writing a short email or planning your afternoon schedule. Open a free AI tool and ask it to help you draft the text or organise the steps.

If you would like support to build this skill, AI mentoring is aXai's program for people with disability who want to learn AI tools for their own goals, at their own pace. You can register your interest on the page.

aXai is a disability-led AI, software and accessibility company, delivering through AI-supported work. Today that work is done by the two founders; we are building the pipeline so it can be done by more disabled people in properly paid roles. Read how AI-supported work works.