Did you know……?
Medical Device:
- The World Health Organization (WHO), includes therapeutic footwear as “Assistive products for persons with disability” supported by NDIS.
- In Australia, the Certified Pedorthists develops the medical device prescription based on the referral received from the medical practitioners.
- If the need for specialized footwear is a direct result of a health issues, it is regarded as additional living cost that is solely and directly as a result of the disability or health issue needs.
- Pedorthic medical grade footwear intervention will reduce or avoid the long-term cost of other supports such as additional care or hospitalization due to falls risk.
No Barriers:
- Persons with disability often do not choose appropriate footwear for themselves - there is a tendency for ill-fitted footwear to go unnoticed.
- rarely get ‘‘sized’’ for shoes that fit. Furthermore, retail stores often do not stock the customized shoes needed for these customers.
- The use of inappropriate footwear may be related to socioeconomic factors.
- With the Australian government’s NDIS service, such socioeconomic constraints are no longer an issue and appropriate footwear should be considered a priority.
Obtaining footwear from an appropriately trained professional is recommended. What’s on your feet matters!