10 dupes to support your child’s disability needs

Supporting your child’s needs can be costly so we did the research to find you some fantastic dupes to help broaden your choices when next replacing some of those essentials you need on a day to day basis.

Sensory Regulation & Stimulation

1. Compression Clothing

• Mainstream Brands: SmartKnitKIDS (imported)

• Aussie Dupes:

  • Best&Less and Kmart seamless or activewear tops (tight fit works well)

  • Target Australia: Cat & Jack or full-body suits in activewear sections

  • Amazon search compression clothing for children/kids

2. Weighted Blankets

• Premium: Calming Blanket AU (~$200+)

• Dupes:

  • Kmart AU: Weighted blanket for kids (~$39)

  • Big W: MediComfort or Homemaker Kids weighted blankets (~$49)

  • Spotlight: Offers occasional deals on calming blankets

  • Amazon search weighted blankets for kids

3. Sensory Swings and Pods

• Premium: Harkla Australia or Sensory Oasis for Kids

• Dupes:

  • Amazon AU: Search “sensory swing” or “hammock pod swing”

  • eBay AU or Temu AU: Cheaper sensory swings (~$30–$60)

  • IKEA: EKORRE swing (if available)

  • Kmart comfort pod Vs Cloudsac

Tactile & Oral Sensory

4. Fidget Toys

• Premium: Chewigem, Ark Therapeutic (imported)

• Dupes:

  • Kmart, Big W, Reject Shop, and Smiggle: Pop its, squishies, tangles

  • Dollar stores and Daiso: Tons of $2–$5 options

  • Amazon search fidget toys

5. Chewable Jewellery

• Premium: Chewigem AU or Ark

• Dupes:

  • Sensory Street AU (often has sales)

  • eBay AU / Amazon AU: Search “chewable necklace BPA-free”

  • Craft your own using food-grade silicone beads from Etsy

Auditory Needs

6. Noise Cancelling / Reducing Headphones

• Premium: Puro Sound Labs, Bose

• Dupes:

  • 3M Kids Earmuffs: Bunnings or Officeworks (~$20–$30)

  • Big W or Target AU: Kids' hearing protection

  • Amazon AU: Budget noise-cancelling headphones (~$30–$60)

  • Peltor ear muffs

  • Soundcore

  • EMS

  Ear plugs

• Loop earplugs

• Calmer

• Temu

• Amazon “search cancellation ear buds”

7. White Noise Machines

• Premium: Hatch Baby

• Dupes:

  • Kmart: Sleep sound machines (~$20)

  • Free apps: “White Noise Baby” or “Sound Sleeper” (iOS/Android)

Mobility & Physical Needs

8. Adaptive Shoes

• Premium: Billy Footwear AU, Nike FlyEase

• Dupes:

  • Grosby Velcro Sneakers from Big W or Target

  • Kmart AU: Easy-on elastic shoes for toddlers and kids

  • School shoes with side zips for easier access

9. Wobble Seats & Focus Tools

• Premium: Kore Wobble Chairs

• Dupes:

  • Amazon AU or eBay AU: Balance discs for ~$20

  • Kmart: Small yoga balls or peanut therapy balls

  • Spotlight or sports stores: Discount stability cushions

10. Adaptive Utensils & Cups

• Premium: EZPZ, EazyHold

• Dupes:

  • Tommee Tippee, B.Box, or Little Chomps (often available at Baby Bunting or Big W)

  • Spotlight / Amazon AU: Silicone grip sleeves or easy-grip cutlery

  • NDIS participants: Some items may be claimable under consumables

Where to Shop Online in Australia

• Sensory Street

• MyDiffability

• Sensory Oasis for Kids

• Windmill Toys

• Kmart / Big W / Target / Officeworks / Amazon AU

FYI just a reminder of the “NO” list items

Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’.

There are 15 categories of goods and services that are not ‘NDIS supports’.

These are services, items, and equipment that can’t be funded by the NDIS. Please find more details here.