National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1209
My name is , and I am the mother of an 11-year-old boy who is an NDIS participant. My son lives with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, anxiety and PTSD. We have been part of the NDIS for just over a year.
I am writing because I am deeply concerned about the proposed changes in the NDIS Amendment Bill and the real-life impact these changes could have on children like my son and families like ours.
The NDIS has made an enormous difference to our lives. My son has worked with multiple therapists who have been compassionate, skilled and genuinely life changing for him. He also has support workers who help make everyday life manageable and safe. These supports are not luxuries or “extras”. They are essential supports that allow him to participate in the community, regulate emotionally, build independence, develop social skills and experience the world safely.
Community participation supports have been especially important for my son. Through support workers and funded activities, he has been able to access experiences that help him connect with others, explore his interests, build confidence and learn practical life skills. These experiences are critical for his emotional wellbeing, development and future independence.
I am very concerned about any reduction in funding for social and community participation supports. For children like my son, these supports are often the difference between isolation and connection, distress and regulation, crisis and stability. Removing or reducing these supports would not simply mean “doing fewer activities.” It would have serious impacts on mental health, family wellbeing, emotional regulation, social development and safety.
I am also concerned about increasing expectations being placed on parents and unpaid carers. Families of children with complex support needs are already carrying enormous emotional, financial and practical pressure. Many parents are already exhausted, burnt out and constantly advocating just to access appropriate support. The assumption that families can simply absorb more caring responsibilities does not reflect reality.
Support workers and therapists do not replace parenting. They make sustainable parenting possible.
Consistency and stability are incredibly important for children with disability, especially children with autism, anxiety and trauma backgrounds. Frequent reassessments, shorter plans and ongoing uncertainty create stress not only for participants, but for entire families. It is distressing to constantly feel like you must repeatedly “prove” your child’s disability and support needs in order to keep accessing essential supports.
I am particularly concerned about stricter permanence requirements and expectations that participants must try “all appropriate treatments” before receiving support. Autism, ADHD and trauma-related conditions are not things that can simply be cured through trying enough therapies. Supports should focus on improving quality of life, participation, safety and
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1209
independence, not forcing families into endless cycles of proving, testing and justifying their child’s needs.
I am also concerned about increased reliance on automated decision-making. Decisions about disabled children and vulnerable people should never become impersonal or reduced to a checklist or computer process. Families need individual consideration, nuance and human understanding. Disability support cannot be effectively assessed through rigid systems that fail to capture daily realities.
Another major concern is the expectation that mainstream systems should provide support before the NDIS does. In reality, many mainstream systems are already overwhelmed and unable to provide the level of support children with complex needs require. Families are often bounced between systems while children miss out on timely support. Delays and gaps in services can lead to worsening mental health, family crisis, school disengagement and long-term harm.
The NDIS has worked well for my son because it has allowed him access to people who understand him and support him in ways that are practical, flexible and relationship-based. His support team has helped him participate in the community, build confidence, regulate emotions, develop social skills and experience activities he otherwise would not have safely accessed. These supports help him work towards a future where he can be more independent and connected to the world around him.
People who do not live this reality often do not see how much work goes into helping disabled children safely participate in everyday life. They may see a child attending an activity, but not the preparation, emotional support, regulation assistance and recovery required to make that participation possible.
I ask the committee to carefully consider the real-world impact these changes may have on disabled children, participants and families. Supports that improve community participation, emotional regulation, independence and quality of life should not be treated as optional. Early and appropriate supports prevent crisis, reduce long-term costs and help children build meaningful lives.
I respectfully ask the committee to:
protect funding for social and community participation supports ensure children and families are not subjected to unnecessary reassessments and instability avoid placing unrealistic expectations on unpaid carers and families ensure human oversight remains central in all NDIS decisions recognise that mainstream systems are often unable to meet complex disability needs maintain access to trusted support workers and therapists ensure reforms do not create additional barriers for vulnerable participants
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1209
Thank you for considering my submission and for listening to the lived experiences of families like mine.