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

Submission 3884

Dear Senator,

I write to you as a concerned parent of my 12 year old son, who has autism, ADHD, ODD and anxiety. He is currently supported by the NDIS and we are fortunate enough to receive funding that has allowed us to engage an Occupational Therapist, - Speech Therapist and Psychologist for him. These supports have seen him able to attend mainstream schooling.

Life for our son isn’t without its challenges, and he is still developing social skills, emotional regulation and executive function to manage day to day life. He is now at an age where society naturally expects more of him, and he so desperately wants more for himself. He doesn’t have friends, as he has such a hard time engaging with kids at school, finding common interests and behaving in socially accepted ways.

Our access to therapy through the NDIS funding has been a lifesaver. is enjoying being part of his school basketball team and is developing appropriate social communication and emotional management skills. -

My biggest fear is that these supports will disappear with Labor’s planned changes to the NDIS. We know that is making real progress BECAUSE of these funded supports. To take them away would be taking 10 steps backwards. We have such amazing therapists as part of his “team”, but still struggles daily. As a direct - result of therapy we have seen a reduction in violence and ‘meltdowns’, and these are skills that he needs to continue to develop. This is only possible with NDIS funding. -

We aren’t asking for all the ribbons and bows. We don’t want all of the well publicised extras - social activities, excursions, cleaners, etc. We just want funding to keep the therapy that he so desperately needs. We want him (and others kids like him) to have the supports to allow him to grow and develop into a functional member of society. To finish school, get a job one day, and have the same opportunities as everyone else. We are so grateful to live in a country with amazing health and social infrastructure. By reducing NDIS funding for critical therapies, Labor is reducing opportunity of developing into an adult who can support himself, live independently and contribute in his community. Labor will be creating an adult dependant on welfare. This is not our - goal. Declan has potential. He just needs the right support to get there.

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

Submission 3884

We are a family with 2 working parents, but we cannot afford to fund the therapies ourselves. If- loses NDIS funding, he will lose functional capacity. It’s that simple. I fear I will also lose the ability to work full time and contribute to our family, as his care needs will naturally increase.- is 12. He is still learning. Please support him to continue to work on these life skills that he is still developing.

Please oppose the planned changes to the NDIS. These changes were not considered in their entirety, and were developed without appropriate consultation. They are a quick fix to save some money, and Labor has not considered the impact this will have on so many families like mine, for right now, and for the rest of our lives.

Many thanks,