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

Submission Number: 1979

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

I am an autistic adult aged thirty-five years old and been participating in approximately eighteen months under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Currently receiving social support as well occupational therapy which has been essential towards maintaining wellbeing along with being able participate daily life after long period burnout.

How Supports Help Me With funded NDLS supported allied healthcare regained basic stability rebuilt a social life engage work around me become more effective independent person these provided foundations mental health community connection capacity contribute economically socially impossible severely limited without them concerns specific provisions s 25A (2) Access test change The provision counts appropriate treatment available even when individual circumstances financial geographic barriers prevent access directly risking excluding like myself treatments services located far away unaffordable to be treated as available my impairment deemed permanent access denied removed effectively stripping practical meaning of available will punish people outside their control s 25B(4)-Alternative supports Allowing supports declared alternative thereby excludes impairments from NDS creates pathway funnel participants incomplete qualified operational many including rely on tailored needs redirected generic partial alternatives risks leaving critical gaps care s(34)(G)-(J)**-Parental presumption Legal presumption parents provide substantial care support deeply harmful whose do not cannot or will assume funding reduced because NDIS presumes parental I face significant, practical gap this does reflect diverse family situations unfairly shifts responsibility onto unpaid members ignoring those who have no such supports **s(34) A-Funding below total cost Permitting the NDIS fund less than full cost cheaper reasonable necessary exists substituting inadequate services meet needs Cheaper options may address scope required supports leave with unmet worse outcomes

s 59 B (4) - Automated decisions Authorising automated systems make discretionary evaluative about plans dehumanizing affecting health safety already experienced NDIS

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

Submission 1979

making assumptions about my supports; automated decision-making could entrench such errors and reduce opportunities for individual context to be considered.

Schedule 5 — Transitional protections not guaranteed Placing transitional protections in temporary, ministerial rule-making rather than in the Bill leaves vulnerable people exposed. Protections that can be repealed within 12 months or left unmade are not adequate safeguards for a population that depends on continuity of care.

Observed practice already reflecting the Bill’s approach

I have already experienced the NDIS assuming I have household or family support despite informing them otherwise. I have seen attempts to identify or push “alternative” supports in ways that reduce funded assistance. Decisions sometimes cherry-pick information to minimise funding and shift responsibility to other systems. These patterns indicate how the Bill’s changes could be used in practice to reduce supports.

Human impact if changes proceed If these changes go ahead, the practical effects would include loss of supports I rely on, greater instability in daily life, reduced capacity to work, worsening mental health and increased risk of crisis. Expecting parental care where it does not exist would create dangerous gaps. Redirecting people to inadequate alternatives will increase long-term costs (crisis services, hospitalisations, lost employment) and cause real harm to dignity, safety, and lives.

What I ask the Committee to do

• Reject the Bill in its current form.- If not rejected, require the following mandatory amendments before any passage:
  • Remove or amend s 5A(2) so

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

Submission 1979

protect participants by rejecting or substantially amending this Bill and insisting on meaningful, lived-experience-led consultation and binding safeguards. May 29, 2026 (Submitted by an autistic adult and NDIS participant)