National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024

Submission 301

To whom it may concern

re: NDIS Bill (“In“ and “Out” list)

I just wanted to express my concern over the proposed amendments.

It’s fine for the CEO or head of NDIA etc to have the say over what’s OUT or not covered by NDIS funding, when it’s things like illicit drugs, weapons, alcohol, gambling etc However - they should not get to decide what IS acceptable and appropriate as every single person with (or without for that matter) a disability is entirely different and has entirely different strengths, challenges and support needs.

Mandating therapies or services totally eliminates all choice and control, the absolute foundations of the whole scheme, and what every disabled person should have always had, still requires every day of their life and will always both require and deserve.

Do we really need to make their lives, and their family’s lives, any harder than they already are???

Thank you for listening to the voices of the people with the scars and traumas of lived experience.

Yours sincerely

Heidi Brandis

Autism Parent Support Group Founder and Facilitator Author WA Autim Parent Handbook (4 editions, 2013 - 2023) Member, WA Department of Education Disability and Inclusion Committee Former Occupational Therapist