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

Submission 204

For NDIS Senate Enquiry

I am extremely concerned that the NDIS will say I am no longer permanently Deaf as I have Cochlear Implants. But I was born profoundly deaf in 1954.

Worry No. I - I am still totally deaf when I take the Speech Processors off at night. No normal smoke alarm will wake me. I need my flashing light vibrating alerts to be safe.

Worry No. 2 – I do not understand English language (or any full language) as no sound in till I was 50 years old. School taught me to speak and lipread but I can’t spell, read or write properly. I am poor at maths and general information. Speech Processors do not make my brain understand what it hasn’t heard before. It takes a long time to learn English. I am still Deaf. I need to keep learning Auslan to be able to read interpreters more and be less dependent on my wife. My wife is old and will die one day.

I am older too but Aged Care does not cover the cost of replacing Speech Processors when they start to wear out and not work properly. So I need to stay on the NDIS. I never ever want to go back to being totally deaf. It is not safe at all and not fair. I need to be able to look after myself and not have people looking after me just because I can’t afford to replace my Speech Processors/strobe smoke alarm etc. Also I am not old and frail to need Aged Care.

Worry no. 3 – The new way of testing people to see what people need might not be good for Deaf people. It is a big worry. I can do lots of things if I have my speech processors, full access to interpreters and have my special smoke alarms, alarm clock, video doorbell and smart watch. I don’t want them to say you can look after yourself during the day so you don’t need the NDIS. Without the technology, Auslan interpreters and my speech processors it would not be safe for me to live without someone with me particularly at night. They would have to be my ears again. Not fair.

Signed in Auslan by to me , his wife and NDIS Plan Nominee.