National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1491
Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee
Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment
(Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Thank you for the opportunity to provide this submission. I am writing as a mum of a deaf child on the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland.Iam veryconcerned aboutthe proposedNDISAmendmentBill 2026.
Iamedeeply concernedaboutthethriving Kidsinitiative.While Ibelieve mychild will most likely remainonthen DISScheme, allof ourlocal paediatric therapistsare concernthat theirbusinesses maynotsurviveonce ThrivingsKidsis implementedwhich wouldeffectively leave uswithoutsupportaswell. Mydeafchilddiagnosiswithhaving no functioning vestibular system(balance systemsystemin theeard andaneurological language disorder(Childhood Apraxiaof Speech).Ourspeech therapist is highly specialised,andonelineelseintharea wouldbeabletosupportmy chil withthespecialisedspeech therapyapproach.If we losetheses specialisetherapists,wewillloselifeline. Whenmychildwasborn,specialiststold me that mychildwould not be able towalkandmay nottalk.Throughspecialise dearinterventionfromourOTourspecialisedCAS speechtherapist ,ourauslan deaf mentor anda vestibul physiotherapist,mymychild hasprovedthose prognoseswrong . Truly believe that childwill live an independent lifeandsocietybecause of the supportsput in place early.Please protect this support for my child as well asthreechildrensimilar prognosis. In additionfor deaf childrenaccess to Ausl Dea mentorsinterpretingcaptioningfamily lan guagesupports assistivetchnologycommunication accessessential.Thesuppor help children developlanguage connect family participate safely build confidence acces everydaylife.My deaf childhas developed strong connection siblings because our childrenwere able learnAuslangtogetheras a languagetothe whole fami I amconcernedthat Billcould makeit easierforsupportheldelay reducedremovedor families toldtechnologyparental responsibilityanother systemshould meetthec hild’sacces needs.Deafchilren cannotwait through long reviews while language access isreduced or removed.Language development time criticaldelays cancause lasting harm Please suppo amendments and safeguardsprotectdeaf chilrds acess tanguage choice communication. Kind regards, A Mum from The Atherton Tablelands Far North Queensland