National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 1401

Submission to the Inquiry into Proposed NDIS Reforms

I am the parent and primary carer of neurodivergent teenagers and I am concerned that the proposed NDIS reforms risk failing people with significant but less visible disabilities. One of my biggest concerns is the increasing focus on functional assessments, informal supports and whether families can simply manage without funded assistance. In reality, many children and teenagers appear more “functional†precisely because their families are holding everything together behind the scenes. My children are teenagers. At this age most parents gradually step back supporting increased independence instead Supporting remains effectively a full-time role involving emotional regulation support executive functioning education advocacy therapy coordination sensory accommodations community participation constant day-to-day scaffolding just keep life functioning This ordinary parenting The more family provide child appears paper believe serious flaw direction reform Invisible masking fluctuating capacity adaptive systems around disabled children recognised particularly concerned about reliance informalsupports enormous burden already carried families carers needs disappear funding disappears burden gets pushed onto operating at capacity In own situation level Support significantly impacted ability participate paid employment Believe these reforms pushing even mothers workforce financial stress burnout other systemsofsuppor Also concern intelligent verbal outwardly coping increasingly viewed notdisabledenough despite substantial impairment dailyfunctioningemotionalregulationindependenceparticipation Child made meaningful improvements psychology occupationaltherapysupport Thoseimprovements evidence Supports working They no longer needed The NDIS has potential reduce long-term social economic costs by helping disabledchildrenfamilies remain stable engaged function withincommunity before they reach crisis point I ask committee carefully consider: the impact of invisible disabilityandmasking, hidden labour performedbyfamilythe longterm consequences shifting responsibilityonto unpaidcarersthe risk narrowing access people disabilities may immediately visible assessors.