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

Submission 1779

To the Committee Secretary,

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

I am the mother and nominee of my daughter, an NDIS participant with autism spectrum disorder Level 3.

I am writing to express serious concerns regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 and potential impact these reforms may have on participants like my daughter and families like ours. Our daughter had a late diagnosis after significant challenges; she is now transitioning into adulthood—already vulnerable due to high support needs among autistic young people requiring extensive assistance from birth onward through adolescence until entering adult life stages where social isolation becomes more pronounced without adequate supports. The NDIS has been transformative when appropriate services are provided: With help from her support worker who enabled gradual steps outwards toward community engagement & self-confidence building over time compared against prior seclusion caused mainly because no such resources were available previously. Social participation isn’t considered as ‘extras’ but essential components that prevent deterioration in mental health functioning quality-of-life. Without them regression occurs across multiple dimensions including socially emotionally functionally impacting negatively upon overall well-being significantly. Concerns exist about proposed changes:

• Functional capacity assessments;
• Tighter eligibility requirements,
• Reassessments existing participants’ narrowing definitions reasonable necessary supports; limitation around social community involvement. Autism cannot be fully understood via standardized rushed evaluations since functional capacities vary greatly depending environmental stress sensory load communication demands availability of supportive structures many individuals particularly girls women mask difficulties during assessment while still experiencing profound disabilities daily lives Also concerned regarding increasing administrative burdens placed onto participants family members experienced serious failures within system despite numerous plans reviews change circumstance processes occurring several years ago later asked complete additional forms correct omissions should never happened first place These experiences have undermined confidence the entire system.

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

Submission 1779

Families caring for people with significant disability are already exhausted. We are constantly coordinating appointments, therapies, education, reports, supports, and crisis management while also trying to maintain family stability. Additional reassessments, uncertainty, and administrative hurdles create enormous stress and instability. While I support genuine efforts to reduce fraud and improve accountability within the NDIS,I do not believe participants with significant and permanent disabilities should bear the consequences of system failures, poor administration, or exploitation by providers.I am also concerned about the pace of these reforms and the limited consultation period provided for participants and families to respond to legislation of this scale and significance.The NDIS was created to improve inclusion, dignity, independence, and quality of life for Australians with disability.For families like ours,these supports are not luxuries — they arethe difference between participation and isolation,between stability and crisis.I urge the Committee to ensure that:

• Participants with permanent and significant disabilities are protected from losing essential supports
  • autism and psychosocial disabilities are not disadvantaged by standardised assessment models social and community participation supports remain recognised as legitimate disability supports families and carers are genuinely consulted before major reforms are implemented safeguards exist to prevent inappropriate reassessmentsor lossofsupportfor vulnerableparticipantsThe long-term sustainability of the NDIS mustnot come atthecostofthewellbeing,dignityand futures of peoplewithdisabilitywhorelyoniteverydayThank you foreachsideringthissubmission.