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

Submission 2271

My son has autism level three and a mild intellectual disability after enduring excruciating two-year appeal process. We finally secured a Support plan that gives him the opportunity to live a better life and more independent life. This plan is not just a document. It’s a lifeline that enables him to access essential supports and service services he needs to participate in the community, develop life skills and maintain his mental health.

I’m deeply concerned about the proposed changes to the disability support NDIS. These changes do not benefit people with disabilities. Instead, they threatened to undermine the process that families like mine go through that I thought so hard to achieve the proposed cuts to social and community sports are particularly alarming. They supports are not luxuries. They are vital for people with disabilities to engage in a world around them. Build a relationship and experience a sense of belongings. Without adequate funding. My son will be forced to stay at home isolated without meaningful activities as a single mother who must work to support our family. I cannot always be there to supervise him. This isolation puts him at risk of depression adventure of suicidal thoughts which he has already been through. It is important to recognise people with disabilities are not a homogenous group. Everyone has unique needs strength and challenges the new assessment tool being proposed does not count for the diversity and risk excluding those who need the Support.

Most a one size fits all approach simply does not work in the context of disability if the goal is to make the system more sustainable if it should be focused on addressing fraud and misuse of funds rather than cutting essential services for those who generally need it by targeting fraudsters who exploited the system significant savings will be achieved without harming vulnerable individuals each dollar loss to fraud is a dollar taken away from the disabilities who reliance is supported to live a fulfilled lives I urge policymakers to reconsider these changes and to prioritise the needs and well-being of people with disabilities protecting and strengthening disabilities. Support is the only right thing to do. It’s an investment in more and inclusive compassionate society.