Understanding the 2026 NDIS Changes: A Guide for Autistic and ADHD Participants
- Eden Crabtree
- Apr 28
- 4 min read
Updated: May 12
What’s changing, what it may mean, and how to stay informed - reviewed with
Eden Crabtree our NDIS Team Leader.
There has been growing discussion about proposed changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and many Autistic people, ADHDers and families are understandably seeking clear information.
At The Neurodiverse Network, we know policy changes can feel overwhelming—particularly when information online can be conflicting or difficult to interpret. This article provides a balanced overview of what is currently known about the 2026 NDIS changes,
with a focus on what may be relevant for neurodivergent participants and families.
Please note: This article is general information only and is not legal, funding or personalised support advice.
What Changes Are Being Proposed for the 2026 NDIS changes?
Recent reform discussions indicate a stronger focus on functional impact when considering access and supports, alongside broader changes to funding pathways and foundational supports.
Some changes are proposed to be phased in from late 2026, with broader implementation continuing over time, subject to legislation and system rollout.
In practical terms, this means there may be increasing emphasis on how disability impacts day-to-day life, rather than diagnosis alone, when accessing some supports.
Sources: NDIA Thriving Kids updates (2026); Australian Government NDIS Review implementation updates.
A Greater Focus on Functional Impact
A key theme emerging in reforms is a stronger focus on functional support needs.
This may include consideration of areas such as:
Daily living skills
Communication
Emotional regulation
Executive functioning
Participation and independence
For many neurodivergent people, this may not be entirely new, as functional evidence has long played a role in planning.
What may be changing is how central this becomes in assessment and funding discussions.
What may help
When preparing reports or discussing supports, it may be useful to focus on:
How support needs show up in daily life
What requires assistance or accommodation
How needs may fluctuate across settings
The impact of support on participation and wellbeing
This can help make invisible or less obvious support needs clearer.
Why Masking and Burnout Are Part of This Conversation
Many Autistic and ADHD people have raised questions about how experiences such as masking, autistic burnout, shutdowns and fluctuating capacity are understood within systems.
These experiences can affect functioning significantly, even when they are not always externally visible.
Where relevant, documentation may benefit from describing:
Variability in support needs
Executive functioning challenges
Sensory or regulation impacts
Recovery demands following everyday activities
Differences between appearing to cope and sustaining capacity
Clear functional descriptions may support more accurate understanding of needs.
Changes to Funding and Supports
There has also been discussion about increased scrutiny around some supports and a stronger emphasis on supports linked to functional outcomes.
While details continue to evolve, some supports may require clearer justification regarding how they support:
Skill development
Participation
Independence
Emotional regulation
Community access
What about social and community supports?
There has been understandable concern about community and social supports, particularly in neurodivergent communities where connection can be highly protective.
When discussing these supports, framing them in terms of outcomes may be helpful, for example:
Rather than simply describing a support as social connection, it may be useful to describe how it supports:
Communication development
Community participation
Emotional wellbeing
Reduced isolation
Functional skill-building
What Is “Thriving Kids”?
One major reform area is Thriving Kids, a proposed foundational supports pathway for many younger children with developmental support needs.
Current information suggests this may involve supports increasingly delivered across:
Health systems
Education systems
Community-based supports
NDIS pathways for children with higher support needs
Implementation details are still developing, and families may wish to monitor updates as more information becomes available.
Will Current Participants Lose Access?
This is a common question.
At present, broad claims about widespread loss of access can oversimplify a complex and evolving policy process.
What appears more accurate is that:
Eligibility and planning processes may become more structured
Functional evidence may carry greater weight
Some people may access foundational supports pathways rather than traditional NDIS pathways
Further details and safeguards continue to emerge
Staying informed through reliable sources can be helpful as reforms progress.
Practical Steps That May Help
While everyone’s situation is different, some people may find it helpful to focus on:
1. Documenting function clearly
Consider ensuring reports describe:
Daily impacts
Support needs
Variability in functioning
What happens without support
2. Making less visible needs explicit
Where relevant, documentation may include:
Masking
Burnout
Executive dysfunction
Sensory impacts
Fluctuating capacity
3. Strengthening supporting evidence
Depending on circumstances, relevant documentation may include:
Functional capacity assessments
Psychology reports
Speech pathology reports
Other allied health documentation relevant to goals and support needs
4. Linking supports to outcomes
Where appropriate, it may help to explain how supports contribute to:
Participation
Independence
Regulation
Sustainability of functioning
A Reassuring Reminder
Policy changes can bring uncertainty, but uncertainty does not necessarily mean immediate loss of supports.
What many of these discussions reflect is a stronger emphasis on describing how disability impacts functioning, rather than a change in whether those support needs are valid.
That distinction matters.
The TL;DR
A simple way to understand the direction of reform is:
Less emphasis on diagnosis alone - More emphasis on clearly describing functional impact
For many people, this may be less about changing needs, and more about how those needs are evidenced within the system.
Staying informed, preparing clear documentation, and seeking advice relevant to your circumstances may help people navigate changes with greater confidence.
Sources
National Disability Insurance Agency (2026), Thriving Kids updates
Australian Government NDIS Review implementation information (2026)
Disability advocacy sector updates and publicly available reform briefings (2026)
At The Neurodiverse Network, we’re a neuro-affirming psychology clinic based in Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, offering ADHD and Autism assessments, therapy, and NDIS supports for children, teens, and adults.
Our team of psychologists provide neurodiversity-affirming care, recognising and celebrating the strengths of every individual.
We provide a range of services including:
ADHD assessments and therapy for adults and children
Autism assessments and support across the lifespan
Individual counselling and emotional regulation support
NDIS psychology and functional capacity assessments
Neurodiverse support groups and online workshops
Our psychologists draw on lived experience and evidence-based approaches to create a space where neurodivergent people feel safe, understood, and empowered.
Whether you’re seeking a Clinical Psychologist on the Gold Coast, a neuro-affirming therapist near Burleigh Heads, or NDIS support, our team is here to help you navigate your journey with compassion and clarity.
Located in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast — close to Miami, Palm Beach, Robina, and Varsity Lakes.
Learn more about our neuro-affirming care or book an ADHD or Autism assessment here.
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