Joint funding
When should joint funding be considered?
Joint funding of high-cost ($5000 including GST or more) assistive technology/equipment will be considered when one item of equipment helps the student live as safely and independently as possible, and also improves their access to the curriculum, removing barriers to educational achievement.
What are benefits of considering one item of assistive technology/equipment that will support both the living and learning needs of a student?
The benefits of using one item rather than two include:
- the student and their family/whānau or support person only having one item to learn to use
- better value for money.
In some cases two separate items may be more suitable.
When is it appropriate to make a joint funding application?
Consider a joint funding application when:
- one piece of equipment will support both the living and learning needs of a student and the team agrees that this is the most appropriate option to meet identified needs
- the total value of the assistive technology/equipment is $5000 including GST or more
- health and education assessors have collaborated from the beginning of the assessment process.
Examples of joint-funded assistive technology/equipment
- A power wheelchair with additional high/low or other features to enhance access to school environments and/or to support written communication
- A device that enables both written communication and face-to-face communication, reducing the need for multiple devices.
What is each agency responsible for during the assessment, trial and funding process?
The responsibilities of each agency, as outlined in the Therapy and Assistive Technology/Equipment Operational Protocols, are shown in Table 1. Table 2 shows funding responsibilities using practical examples.
If approved, Ministry of Health assistive technology/equipment may be reissued (from Accessable, or Enable New Zealand) or Ministry of Education stores if available.
How are joint funding applications completed?
The pathway for a joint application is outlined in diagram 1 in the download version of this factsheet. A joint assessment with both health and education assessors is completed with one of the assessors typically taking the lead role.
Complete a joint funding application form and submit this to both agencies, including relevant supporting information, such as pre- and post-trial writing samples or relevant wheelchair specification forms.
Table 1 - assistive technology/equipment funding responsibilities
|
Ministry of Health |
Ministry of Education |
Joint funding
Note: all joint applications must show collaboration from the outset |
|
| What is the primary need for the equipment? |
To support the child in their daily living |
To support the student in the learning |
To support the student in both daily living and learning
One equipment item where the total value of the item is $5,000 or more1, which will have different or additional features for use in both settings |
|
| What will the equipment be used for? |
To assist the child and/or their family or whänau to live as safely and independently as possible.
Examples:
- face to face communication
- personal care
- wheelchair
- standing frame
|
To remove barriers to educational achievement
Examples:
- written communication
- physical access to classroom resources
- alternative access to classroom resources
|
To assist with independence and safety at home and in the community and accessing the curriculum
Examples:
- face to face and written communication
- wheelchair with high/low features
|
|
| Where will the equipment mainly be used? |
All settings - at home, at school and, in some cases, in the community |
Only in the school setting |
All settings - at home, at school and in the community. Joint funding is defined by task, not setting. |
|
| Who will undertake the assessment? |
Equipment and Modification Service (EMS) assessors |
Education staff |
Joint assessment with both health and education assessors and application to both agencies. |
|
Table 2 - assistive technology/equipment funding responsibilities
This table provides examples based on the general principles of the operational protocols. However, all cases will be considered individually.
|
Ministry of Health is responsible for |
Ministry of Education is responsible for |
Joint funding
Note: all joint applications must show collaboration from the outset |
| Hoists |
Personal care equipment at home and in the school (eg, mobile hoist and sling to access toileting), unless the equipment is already available as part of the education property2
Replacement slings for ceiling track hoist, if required for personal care due to a change of student need or for use by additional students |
Hoist (ceiling track or mobile) and sling as part of a school property modification if the student is eligible
Classroom hoists and sling in exceptional circumstances3 It is preferred that the student will have access to one hoist that can be moved throughout the school environment |
N/A |
| Wheelchairs |
Home and daily living |
In exceptional cases a power wheelchair for secondary students may be considered when needing to access difficult terrain. (It is expected that other management strategies are used for students in primary and intermediate schools)
Before starting an application, establish that this is not required as part of the student’s general mobility needs |
Power wheelchair with additional features to a base chair to meet school needs such as high/low features |
| Seating |
Home and daily living |
Classroom seating when a normal seating system or normal classroom seating is inadequate |
N/A |
| Communication devices |
Face-to-face communication |
Written communication |
Single device that meets both written and face-to-face communication needs4 |
| Standing frames |
One supplied for use at home or at school |
N/A |
N/A |
1 If the request meets the joint-funding criteria but the total value of the item is under $5000 including GST, responsibility is determined by primary purpose. If the primary purpose is to remove barriers to educational achievement, the Ministry of Education retains responsibility. If the primary purpose is to help the child to live as safely and independently as possible, the Ministry of Health retains responsibility.
2 If the education property (eg, hoist) is not appropriate, alternatives will need to be well justified.
3 Where the student must be moved in and around the classroom AND where they can’t be safely moved without a hoist due to factors such as weight (refer to ACC guidelines), or have a medical condition that means lifting isn’t safe for the student (eg, fragile bone conditions), tactile sensitivity or severe behaviour.
4 This would only be joint funded when the single device was more appropriate for the student than two dedicated devices. Assessors should consider the student’s need to communicate (face-to-face) when they are writing (versus the benefits and limitations of learning how to use two devices).
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