National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1744
From: Sent: Tuesday, 19 May 2026 11:12 PM To: Community Affairs, Committee (SEN) Subject: NDIS proposed cuts.
Good evening,
My name is My son, , is an NDIS participant. His NDIS participant reference is . He was born on
This email is to inform you that is not just a number.
Born with a complex heart defect, he was diagnosed with Developmental Delay and Hyperactivity in -February 1993. I had insisted to staff at the Royal children’s Hospital in Melbourne in September 1992 that had suffered an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) during open or post-open Heart surgery. My concerns were dismissed. -Diagnosed with Autism in November 1995, all my concerns regarding his right sided weakness, low muscle tone, abnormal gait and “blank episodes” were swept under the carpet of this diagnosis.
We embarked on an intensive behavioural therapy program for between July 1995 until February 1998. In spite of the suspicion of a mild intellectual disability in high school, he performed well both academically and socially and received his WACE in December 2009 - Post school was a struggle. In spite of TAFE certificates, we tried for ten years to obtain a mainstream position in a cafe, restaurant, hotel, function centre or catering company without any success.
He now loves his job at Alinea as a cafe attendant. However, they are loath to extend his capabilities to accommodate his ambition - which is to open a cafe for disadvantaged people. I believe that Alinea does not wish to allow him to move on.
After turned thirty years of age, we had a comprehensive neurological workup that showed the ABI on MRI, with very old blood products in his frontal lobes and cerebellum, which was agreed had occurred during or after cardiac surgery as a toddler. - His respiratory specialist and neurologist have confirmed sleep apnoea is a direct consequence of his ABI. -Hence, he had received no early intervention for his stroke. The process also showed that had significant delays in executive function, which includes social interaction, problem solving, sequencing and predicting. He is also extremely vulnerable due to his inability to run, as he would -never be able to flee an assault.
I have been engaged in a battle with the NDIS to add his ABI as a secondary diagnosis to Autism for the last two years. His case is now before the Administrative ReviewTribunal.I do not hold out much hope, primarily because of the proposed cuts to the NDIS.However, this is the least of his issues.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1744
What would [name] lose if he had his funding cut or removed -
- speech pathology for language growth, retention and social interaction -
- occupational therapy for fine motor skills assistance
- exercise physiology for his specialist gym programme
- physiotherapy for fitness support, his low muscle tone and right sided weakness
- podiatry for ongoing orthotics due to his abnormal gait and past foot fractures
- support for keeping his unit clean and social outings, such as visiting museums, galleries, concerts, markets and relevant groups
- loss of Support Coordination and Local Area Coordination
- continuing employment until he has further skills
- employment support to give him the abilities to launch his own cafe.
I am too exhausted to rage or scream or carry on. I am nearly sixty-five years old. [Name] is thirty five years old.All I want for him is to have a full, independant, happy and safe life. [Name] can’t live this life if he is removed from the NDIS.
Thank you. -Yours sincerely,
[parent and advocate].
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