NDIA Accountability Project

Son's intellectual disability, autism, anxiety, and genetic condition impacted by NDIS changes

‹ PrevPage 1 of 2 · Source p. 1Next ›

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

Submission 3930

Date: 01/06/2026

NDIS Bill Senate submission

Re: NDIS Future Generations Bill 2026

From:

My 36 years old son is an NDIS participant and I am his carer, plan nominee and advocate. I am appalled at some of the proposed changes to the NDIS and am strongly opposed to the Future Generations Bill as it stands.

My son lives with an intellectual disability, autistic-like behaviours, anxiety and some physical health issues as the result of a congenital genetic condition that was diagnosed at the age of 2. He attended special school and then a day program which he still attends after having been transitioned to the NDIS when the scheme first rolled out.

We have seen many changes to the disability sector over the years, but some of the changes being proposed in this new Bill compels me to make this submission today. I wish to state my opposition to the following changes

  • Cuts to funding for social and community participation.

    I am vehemently opposed to cuts to social and community participation. Without support to access the community and engage in supported social activities, my son and his peers would be shut out of Australian society and terribly isolated. This is dangerous and retrograde and risks further marginalising an already marginalised and vulnerable population group. These supports allow people like my son to socialise and participate in contemporary life. It allows them to be seen and make connections that can safeguard their physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.

  • The Minister’s new power to cut funding without appeal (s 34A).

  • The new functional capacity test and the 2028 onwards reassessment of everyone.

Who will be undertaking the tests and what are their qualifications? How will the test be conducted? A phone assessment is not functional capacity assessment. Advocacy groups, disability professionals, carers and people with a disability have expressed serious concerns about the way in which it has been proposed that these tests will be undertaken.

In addition, I would like to point out that in our case, the NDIS has over a decade’s worth of assessments and reports that detail my son’s ‘functional capacity’, 10s of thousands of dollars of NDIS money spent already. If the purpose of the bill is to save money, yet another assessment is not the way to do it.

  • Tougher unscheduled reassessment rules and the loss of review rights

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

Submission 3930

This is just plain cruel and will cause significant hardship, penalising an already vulnerable population group, their families and their carers. The fact that 70% of claims taken to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) has resulted in a change in decision demonstrates the importance of having accessible, transparent mechanisms whereby planning decisions can be reviewed and challenged.

I am concerned that cumulatively, these changes will result in increasing the workload on already stressed and burnt-out informal supports, contributing to even greater inequality in this country.

Sincerely