Annual Report No. 2 of the 48th Parliament

Submission 15

Dear Ms Coker,

I am writing to you as Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

I am a late-diagnosed autistic person on a low income. I have not yet applied for the NDIS, and I am deeply worried that changes to the scheme may make it harder for people like me to access support based on real functional need.

I have spent my life trying to work and function without the right understanding or support. I have repeatedly pushed myself beyond my capacity and worked myself into burnout trying to survive. I have no savings and I am financially insecure.

I have depended heavily on my 77-year-old father for support, stability and help managing life. As he gets older, I am trying to prepare for a future where I may not have his support, knowledge or guidance. If NDIS access becomes harder at the same time that my informal family support disappears, I could be left with no realistic safety net.

I feel like I am a clear example of a disadvantaged person who could fall through the cracks: disabled, low-income, late diagnosed, financially insecure, dependent on family support, and trying to build stability after years of burnout and limited work capacity.

I am asking the Committee to consider the impact of NDIS reform on late-diagnosed autistic adults who may have survived for years by masking, relying on family, avoiding crisis, and going without formal support. Access should be based on functional need, not just diagnosis timing, age, or whether someone has previously managed without support.

Could you please advise whether the Committee is considering the specific risks for late- diagnosed autistic adults, especially those losing informal family support and trying to access support before crisis point?

Kind regards, Jesse