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

Submission 1465

Dear Minister,

I am writing to express serious concerns about the proposed and ongoing reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), particularly their likely impact on autistic adults in South Australia.

I am both an NDIS participant and someone who works part-time supporting people with disability in our local community. This dual perspective has given me a clear understanding of how essential the NDIS is in enabling meaningful everyday support for people with disability including myself. Prior to accessing the NDIS, I experienced years of significant adversity.I found the world multiple sensory overwhelming difficult navigate which contributed considerable distress resulting eating disorder chronic health heightened vulnerability conditions led interactions various services outpatient also had urgent care emergency department admissions challenges navigating life as neurodivergent person other chronic illnesses disabilities experienced childhood trauma bullying through school physical disability late adolescence sexual assault early financial abuse Disabled marginalised less able fulfil economic potential dependant systems help us be ordinary live The NDLS played critical role system isn’t perfect but supports it funds have begun understand work brain rather against enabled build capacity increase independence sense agency participate more meaningfully daily life Continued access these supports essential maintaining progress my disability needs further pursue goals Autistic often complex evolving support not always visible easily captured standard assessments Proposed changes tighten eligibility reduce plan flexibility impose rigid funding structures will disproportionately disadvantage group very likely transfer issues informal supports already at capacity experiencing heightened carer stress It reduces opportunities individualised needs met prevents intervention helps costs long term Autistic adults experience several chronic illness multiple health conditions face substantial barriers across all areas daily life cost-of-living crisis combination loosing access disability supports negative impacts communities Reforms weaken access or move away from person-centred approach risk increasing vulnerability community Reduced allied health supports limit opportunities building employment and participation burden other systems broadening transferring jurisdictions prepared set up for need This may increase reliance on crisis mental health hospitals These environments autistic people can attest personal experience they cause harm

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

Submission 1465

Increased administrative burden and reassessment processes are very likely to cause significant distress, particularly for those who rely on routine and predictability and have heightened stress with uncertainty, such as Autistic adults. While I recognise the importance of ensuring the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the NDIS, I am deeply concerned that current reform directions risk unintentionally undermining the independence and wellbeing of autistic and other disabled individuals. For many of us, appropriate supports are not available or accessible through mainstream systems and must remain individualised and protected within the NDIS. I respectfully urge the South Australian Government to advocate strongly at the federal level for reforms that:

• Recognise autism as a lifelong neurodevelopmental disability requiring flexible, individualised and ongoing support.
• Ensure assessment processes are co-designed with autistic people and informed by neurodiversity-affirming practices.
• Protect access to both early intervention and lifelong supports that enable participation and independence for autistic people, including those with fluctuating capacity, or higher levels of compensation/masking.
• Include meaningful consultation with autistic individuals, families, and advocacy organisations prior to implementing significant changes. A sustainable NDIS must also be equitable and responsive. Autism may not always be visible but its impact on daily life can be profound. Reform must not come at the expense of those the scheme was designed to support. Thank you for your time and consideration, Kind regards