Submission: National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment

Introduction

I am submitting this submission on behalf of myself being disabled member living with severe treatment-resistant depression autism spectrum disorder ASD attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD I also parent two neuro divergent children rely ndis son nine years old global developmental delay level adsd adhd combined type has been ndis five receives occupational therapy speech pathology exercise physiology psychology daughter six global development delay adhd combined type currently assessed asd received similar supports brother wife undiagnosed but own neuro divergent support needs carer family capacity bill deeply concerning our family ## What The NDis Makes Possible Support my children receive through have made real difference their daily lives Son developed significantly ability regulate emotions adapt demands school manage basic tasks confidence communication grown fine gross motor skills things jumping dressing himself feeding himself all improved more independent otherwise would Daughter still early in her journey building self regulation techniques progress managing bedwetting might sound small things for them make big every day Without these supports, my children would not had made this progress world already hard navigate Neurodivergent children to bridge gap ## Concerns About Specific Provisions In Bill Section 25B (4) Alternative Supports And Excluded Impairments This provision allows the rules declare a support an alternative impairment can then be treated excluded impairment effectively redirecting people away from program even one is yet operational does meet individual needs

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

Submission 1814

What worries me most is this: autism is already poorly understood and frequently stigmatised. I worry that government may decide child’s disability can adequately managed through alternative program outside NDIC, such as we will lose access specialist evidence-based supports currently receive even if an alternate exists do not believe it provide same individual support helped son daughter so much.

Section 34(1G)-(1J): Parental Presumption This provision creates legal presumption parents children

disability substantial care, allowing reduce funding basis parent assumed covering gap. This one parts bill worried me most my wife both neurodivergent live treatment resistant depression she informal carer primary carer two high needs cannot absorb more idea NDIS reduce funded because presumed fill it dangerous practice assumes families make up difference breaking point.

Section B Automated Decision-Making Provision authorises automated systems algorithms decisions involving discretion evaluative judgement forming state of mind about participant’s plan family mine frightening no system properly understand how complex each need really are No algorithm understands intersection ASD ADHD developmental delay own disability shapes our capacity to support him. The Human Cost Of Changes If childrens supported reduced removed effects on them would be immediate long-term they go backwards education ability build friendships performing basic daily tasks brushing teeth eating managing emotions could skills worked hard built That cost fall a family with no capacity absord struggling severe treatment-resistant depression My wife undiagnosed but has significant support needs already carrying than majority families These supports extras part keeps going Recommendations I ask Committee:

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1814

• Reject the Bill in its current form. The provisions as drafted create too much risk for existing participants, particularly children with neurodevelopmental conditions and their families.- Engage meaningfully with the disability community before pursuing \ny reform.Any changes to the NDIS must be developed wit\h—not imposed o
  on—people w ith disabilit yandtheir families.Remove or substantially amend sections $25B$ $( ext{ }$ textbf{(}$$)$ and $ extit{$34(}$$(G) ightarrow(J))$, which r i sk stripping supports from chil dren wi th ASD an other ne urodevelopm ent al condi tions , a ndfromfami lies who cannot absorbth e gap.Prohibit automated decision-makingfor any determination abouta participant’s planor accesstothescheme.ConclusionTheNDISwascreatedbecausetoo many peoplewithdisabilitywere notgettingthestopporttheyneeded.IamworriedthisBilltakesusbackwards.IurgetheCommitteeto protectthe scheme’s integrityan dt hepeopl ew ho dependon it.This submission is madeinapersonalc apacity. Iconsenttointbeingpublishedancitedinthecommittee’sreport.However, 1 wish tore main anonymous becauseI amconcernedthatdisclosingmyneurodivergenceatreatment-resistantdepressioncouldbeusedagainstme in the future.