Submission Re: NDI Scheme Amendment
Submitted by: Aimee Schook 31/05/2026
About Me:
My name is Aimee Schook. I am an Autistic individual and I also work with numerous others who are like me, Autistic, or who have a variety of disabilities. Both on and off the NDIS.
My submission will be written from the perspective of an Autistic individual. I have also heard the voices of many scared individuals over the last few weeks. I have seen the first hand importance of the NDIS, how it can allow individuals to live full lives. I also witness first hand the devastation when these supports are taken away.
I am going to have a look at some aspects of this Bill and how they will impact either myself or my community.
Functional Capacity – Who is it that defines what a functional capacity is? Is it going to be someone who has never met the individual and decides that they feel a participant can do things?
Imagine being someone who cannot walk and being told by someone they have never met they will be walking soon (even though impossible) and therefore they have decided they have the functional capacity to need less supports or even being told that as you work you must have the functional capacity to do all things you need to in life. Well this is what is currently happening. The longer we have people who do not understand what these words mean in the roles that make so many important decisions the worse off we as a community will be.
Sensible Controls on reassessments – Yes we do not want to have to get a new FCA every year for it to not be read. Currently we are having to and that cuts around $4000 from a plan. But what we do need is reassessments. I know 10 year olds that have the same plan as when they were 5, people in their 20’s who have the same plan as when they were in school. Currently all the roll overs means reassessments are being needed.
Financial stability is needed. We are all in agreeance here. Let’s start by looking internally. What do I need one person to call me to make an appointment with another person? Why do I need to lodge a complaint in one department to have to then call again and start the process again with another department?
So many aspects of the NDIS department could be streamlined. This would reduce costs already. Not requiring plan review documents when they are never read would also reduce costs. There are so many funds we need to use in order to make sure we get all paperwork into you 6 to 8
weeks early to be then told it is no longer necessary. Instead of taking away our lives why not look at what sensible changes can be made.
What about first asking a participant? Is your plan ok? Then if yes it will continue, if not we will review. A simple solution. If a plan is not broken then why break it?
What is a reasonable attempt? Is it calling someone who has difficulties with communication who has a do not call, contact the support coordinator on their information. Is it calling and only having the phone ring twice before hanging up, before the participant who has movement difficulties can get to their phone? As this is what is currently happening. When people are vulnerable isn’t a reasonable attempt far more than this? Taking away someone’s lifeline as they have a fear of the phone does not seem reasonable to me. This point, the minister being able to just drop people from the program, will never be a good point. Applying for NDIS is hard. Having to already jump through all the hoops is hard. Being cut off a program which is your lifeline because someone who does not know you says so is tragic.
‘All appropriate treatment’ So who is defining this? It does sound like we are winding the clocks back here. Are we bringing back ABA classrooms as that ‘treatment’ was what was expected before. I am Autistic. I do not need ‘treatment’ you cannot ‘treat’ the autism out of me. It is there for good.
Handballing is a great skill. In AFL. Handballing between mental health and NDIS needs to stop before it breaks more people. Our neurodivergent community is often told we are too complex for mental health and yet then we are too mentally unwell for NDIS. So in limbo they stay. Best treatment would be to be able to get support SOMEWHERE. Why do we keep fighting and handballing when at the end of the day it all does come from the same source.
Social and Community Participation. This one hits hard. If you got to know us you will know that a decrease in social and community participation funding will mean:
- increase in social isolation
- increase in health concerns as we will not be able to get to the dr
- increase of mental health concerns do to isolation And will walk the NDIS away from what it was suppose to be. A way for those with a disability to live a fulfilling life.
I would love to be able to:
- Do grocery shopping
- Go to the movies
- Make and attend a Dr appointment
- Go to the gym
- Meet people for a dinner
- Talk to people
For me and many others it is not that simple. When did you last do all those things? As much as some are a chore at least you can. Imagine all that being taken away. All that is left is looking at the 4 walls of where you live. This is the reality taking this away from plans will create.
Decreasing this funding takes away our choice and control. It takes away our right to live a life to the fullest, experience new things, go to places and meet people. It is not as simple as finding a group and joining, or catching public transport. Social and Community Participation for many is our lifeline. Without it we are a shell of a person who wants to be able to engage and do things but instead can no longer. That is not living and enjoying life that is purely existing.
So I am a person I have interests I have difficulties I deserve respect I have a voice I have rights and yes I have a disability.
I am a real person writing this. Not just for myself but for my community. For those who I have met and am yet to meet. They all matter. Our lives matter and so does our future. Having a disability does not mean someone should have less of a life to live from another person. We are all human after all.
Kind regards, Aimee Schook