National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1436
Re: Senate Inquiry into proposed changes to the NDIS
My 24 year old son lives with autism and ADHD and has been on the NDIS for 2 years. His plan is relatively modest but it has made a huge difference to his life.
My main concerns about the proposed changes to the NDIS are:
Cuts to funding for Social Economic and Community Participation This category has made the single biggest difference to my son’s life As an autistic man with few social skills living in a country town
ehe previously spending most ofhis timein hiser roomonhicomputer Since gettinganNDISplan Hehasbeenattendingaweeklygroupfor neurodivergentyoungadultsaswellashavinga support workerforsananhourortwoeachweekandhiwholledemeanourhasimprovedmarkedly Wehave seen hiconfidencegrowandihs anxietylessen These improvements have flowedinto other aspectsof hislifeincluding hiswork Heonlyworksafewhoursper weekpackingshelvesatthesupermarketbutwhere heusedtoregularlycomehome “ sick” occasionally havapanicattackornotmakeitto work at all nowhesconsistentlyshowsupando completesthistshift No anxietyaattacks nothrowingupandon extended toilet breaks due toe unabletocope Haisalsotakingmoreresponsibilityfo rhisown“lifeadmin such as shopping makingattend ingappointmentsandsoon While helsohrregularoccupational therapy and wasseeingapyschologistunderthec apacity buildingsupport it isthesocialanda community participation supporthat hastmadebiggestdifference Ican say thatwith confidenceasan wehadpaidafortuneforpsychologistssincehe
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1436
Social Economic and Community participation is not a luxury that can be taken over by parents and friends! It is an important support that enables people like my son to get out into the community. I would prefer that other aspects of his NDIS package be cut if it means that he can keep this one. The blanket cut to this category of support flies in the face of the personalised plans the NDIS is supposed to provide.
- My suspicion: My son being on the NDIS because he has autism may lead him exiting from future schemes unless similar programs are run elsewhere; we’re concerned about Thriving Kids program’s impact as autism doesn’t disappear after age nine; The NSW premier stated state government won’t afford same-level NDIs services, fear without modest supports currently received will revert back social interaction at all.
I urge reconsideration these proposed changes, scheme expensive but power exists politically make change help pay it For example properly taxing gas mining companies diesel subsidy miners! Regards redacted