09/03/2025
The NDIS is currently exiting a record number of children off the program who have been accessing support for developmental delay or disabilities that the NDIA does not recognise as permanent impairments.
They do not care if you are (still) waiting for an autism assessment with the WA Child Development Service (CDS).
Think you're not impacted by this and it's someone else's problem? ๐คทโโ๏ธ๐คทโโ๏ธ
Schools, students, teachers, EAs, allied health practitioners, the CDS and GPs are going to see a tsunami of children who have been exited from one system without anything suitable to transition to.
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There is a lot here that would not pass the common sense / pub test. ๐ง
Key things you need to know:
๐ If your child is accessing the NDISโs Early Childhood Approach for developmental delay and has turned 7, you need to prepare for a reassessment of their eligibility.
โ This reassessment could result in your child exiting the NDIS.
๐๏ธ After being notified of the reassessment, you have 90 days to provide evidence demonstrating your child meets the NDIS eligibility requirements.
๐๐งโโ๏ธGathering evidence, particularly from specialists, can take a significant amount of time and may be costly.
โ
โThe NDIA will assess eligibility based on residence requirements, disability requirements (impairment, permanence, functional capacity), and/or early intervention requirements.
โ The NDIA doest not take into account that your child is on a waitlist for an autism assessment, even if you provide evidence of this.
โ If your child is no longer eligible, they will exit the NDIS.
๐คจYouโll likely be directed to โmainstream and community supportsโ with 12 month waitlists, inappropriate levels of support or to get a chronic health plan to cover a tiny portion of the private therapy fees you now need to find $$$$ for.
๐๏ธ If you disagree with the NDIAโs decision you can request an internal review of the decision within 90 days.
โ If you disagree with the internal review decision, then your next step is to go to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).
๐ค It is an exhausting process and one that I swear they hope you will give up on.
Every week, over 1,200 families are receiving these reassessment letters, forcing them to prove their childโs lifelong disability still existsโwithin impossible timeframes.
More than 6,000 children under nine have already lost access to the NDIS in the last financial year, despite documented needs.
Our child is one of them.
I've collated more information that will help you learn from our familyโs experience here:
https://perthkidshub.com.au/ndis-eligibility-reassessments-a-parents-guide/