National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2709
Re: NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
I am writing as a legally blind Australian to express my concerns regarding the proposed changes to the NDIS and the impact they may have on people living with disability.
Unlike some disabilities that are stable throughout life, my vision has significantly deteriorated over recent years due to a progressive condition. This has meant constantly adapting to new limitations, learning new skills, and finding different ways to maintain my independence and participation in everyday life.
Losing vision is not simply about seeing less. It affects almost every aspect of daily living. Activities that many people take for granted—reading correspondence, travelling independently, recognising faces, navigating unfamiliar environments, accessing employment opportunities, managing appointments, shopping, and participating in community life—become increasingly difficult as vision declines.
The NDIS has been critical in helping me adapt to these changes. Supports such as assistive technology, orientation and mobility training, low vision services, and other disability supports help me remain independent, connected to my community, and able to contribute to society.
Without these supports, I would face greater isolation, reduced independence, and increased reliance on family, friends, and crisis services.
I am concerned by public discussions that portray disability supports as a financial burden rather than an investment in people. Disabled Australians are not responsible for broader economic challenges, and rhetoric that suggests otherwise creates stigma and division. The reality is that disability can happen to anyone.
Many Australians acquire disabilities later in life through illness, injury, or progressive conditions. I know firsthand how quickly life can change and how important it is to have systems that support people through those changes.
The measure of a fair and compassionate society is not how it treats those who need no support, but how it treats those who do.
The NDIS allows people with disability to participate in their communities, maintain independence, develop skills, access employment, and live with dignity. These outcomes benefit not only individuals but society as a whole.
I am also concerned about reforms being proposed before the full details of the NDIS Rules have been publicly released. Participants and their families deserve transparency and the opportunity to understand how these changes will affect their lives before decisions are made.
I urge the Government to focus on improving accountability, addressing fraud, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the scheme without reducing essential supports for genuine participants.
Disabled people are worth the investment.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2709
We are members of families, workplaces, sporting clubs, community groups, and neighbourhoods. We want the same things as everyone else: independence, safety, connection, purpose, and the opportunity to participate in society.
I ask the Committee to carefully consider the real-world impact these changes may have on people whose ability to live independently depends on the supports provided through the NDIS.
Thank you for considering my submission.
Yours sincerely,