Submission 2153

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

Submission 2153 decision to cease travelling to certain client homes and schools, and turn away new participants. In our region, these clients frequently have zero other options leaving them entirely without access to intervention Many families do not have capacity or ability travel clinics further down mountain Some cannot leave their homes generally need those in home services.

• Income Instability With rigid NDIS cancellation policy maintaining consistent income has become incredibly difficult placing me under significant personal professional stress Furthermore The 2026 Bill introduces frameworks designed restrict capacity building funding based assumption support needs naturally linearly decrease over time This fundamentally conflicts with established research my daily clinical reality For participants lifelong neurodevelopmental communication conditions progress is long term highly dynamic Functional during childhood adolescence early adulthood fluctuates intensely based on: Developmental Transitions Moving from primary school high school transitioning into workforce vastly shifts environmental demands creating stark mismatch between participant’s skills changing circumstances These transitions can also occur much smaller scale profound impacts child young person’s life example moving grade teacher does understand needs house needing work experience etc Systemic Stresses Family mental health home stress changing informal supports directly impact a participant maintain functional communication skills Classifying therapy under rigid structures viewing maintenance as separate from capacity will cause immediate developmental regression Rigidity mirrored tightening NDIA approved appropriate tools specifically restrictions targeted technology games engagement devices In speech pathology particularly within early childhood neurodivergent cohorts non-verbal AAC users Engagement foundation of neurological change If clinician establish solid base using motivating contemporary tools little no therapeutic follow Restricting these clinically inappropriate actively harms outcomes If this Bill passes unamended the human and economic costs simply shift other overstretched state systems such healthcare education protection Early Intervention Failure Children miss critical windows for speech language literacy development leading to educational exclusion Affinity Therapy Services ABN: 68-649-854-642 www.affinitytherapy.com.au

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill 2026

Submission 2153

• Family Burnout and Mental Health Crisis: Slashing plan flexibilities and placing rigid limits on capacity building will drastically increase the caregiving burden. We will see a sharp decline in parental mental health, leading to family breakdown.
• Participant Safety: For many clients, communication is a safety mechanism—allowing them to express pain, discomfort or report abuse. Restricting functional communication and AAC support puts participant safety at direct immediate risk. To address these critical flaws I urge the Senate Committee consider following recommendations:

• Mandate Statutory Co-design Delay implementation rules defining restricting “NDIS supports” until genuine transparent co design has occurred with allied health peak bodies such as Speech Pathology Australia people disabilities themselves.
• Review Geographic Classifications for Travel Adjust travel framework allow regional pricing exemptions isolated topographically challenging pockets (like Blue Mountains) incorrectly classified metropolitan areas.
• Establish an Independent Pricing Mechanism Transfer pricing annual review responsibilities away NDIA independent body IHACPA ensure sustainable pricing reflects real world business inflation. Protect Flexible Capacity Building Lifelong Conditions Ensure legislative definitions of ‘capacity building’ explicitly recognise non-linear fluctuating nature developmental progress across childhood adolescence. Thank you considering vital perspective small localised allied health providers who form true backbone NDIS ecosystem Abbey Forster BSpHSc MSpchLngPath GCert(Autism) MSPAA Speech Language Pathologist Affinity Therapy Services