Key Messages
- BCA acknowledges the need for NDIS reform to improve long-term sustainability; however, reform must not come at the cost of people losing the supports they rely on to live independently, work and participate in the community.
- For people who are blind or vision impaired, supports like assistive technology, orientation and mobility training, and community access are not optional – they are essential for safety and participation.
- Reform should be driven by improving outcomes for people with disability not just cost savings. Real-life consequences for participants must influence NDIS decision-making.
- Functional assessments must capture the real-world impact of vision loss, particularly where safety, navigation, and independence are involved. If assessments don’t reflect how people function in real-world environments, there is a risk that people will be under-assessed and under-supported.
- People with lived experience of blindness and vision impairment must be at the centre of designing NDIS reforms. Getting the design right is critical given the significant impact reforms may have on people’s lives.
- Reforms must be implemented carefully. Rushed or poorly sequenced changes risk leaving people without the support they rely on every day.
- Cuts to social and community participation funding risk increasing isolation and reducing independence for people who are blind or vision impaired, given that these supports often enable basic access to everyday life.
- Choice and control must remain at the centre of the NDIS. People who are blind or vision impaired need to be able to choose providers who understand their needs. Overly rigid provider rules risk reducing access to trusted and specialist vision services, particularly in regional areas.
Background
The Australian Government has announced significant reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) aimed at improving long-term sustainability and slowing cost growth. Reforms build on recommendations made by the Independent Review into the NDIS and the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
While there is broad recognition that the NDIS needs reform, there is significant concern across the disability sector about how quickly these changes are being implemented, the lack of detail on how they will work in practice, the risk of reduced access to supports, and the potential for people to fall through gaps between the NDIS and mainstream services.
There are also concerns about whether planned consultations and opportunities for genuine co-design with people with disability are sufficient to inform changes of this scale.
BCA’s advocacy role is critical in ensuring that NDIS reforms strengthen, not undermine, the independence, safety, and inclusion of people who are blind or vision impaired.
National Disability Insurance Agency data indicates that approximately 10,000 – 11,000 NDIS participants have a primary disability of visual impairment (around 2% of the Scheme), although this underestimates the true number of participants who are blind or vision impaired, as many have vision loss recorded as a secondary disability.1
Through ongoing engagement with our members, BCA will articulate the real-world impacts of proposed changes and work to influence how reforms are implemented in practice. BCA will also continue to collaborate with key partners and disability stakeholders to ensure advocacy is coordinated, consistent, and focused on achieving safe and equitable outcomes for people with disability.
What is changing with the NDIS?
Eligibility and Access:
Shift from diagnosis-based criteria to standardised, evidence-based functional capacity assessments focused on significant impairment affecting daily life. Current participants will be reassessed over time, with the expected number of participants to decrease.
Plan Budgets and Supports:
Social and community participation budgets will be reduced from an average of $31,000 to $26,000 per participant. Unspent funds will no longer automatically roll over to new plan periods and unscheduled reassessments will be subject to tighter rules. The boundary between NDIS and mainstream services will be reinforced ensuring that supports are “reasonable and necessary” and aligned with the intent of the scheme.
Provider and Regulatory Changes:
Move towards registration and a commissioned/provider panel model, reducing reliance on third parties. Enhanced oversight to prevent fraud and misuse of funds.
Timeline
From 1 October 2026 – Participant budgets for social, civic and community participation and capacity building supports begin to be reduced, contributing to a decrease in average plan costs.
By end of 2026 – The technical advisory group provides advice on functional capacity assessments and eligibility thresholds, informed by stakeholder consultation.
From 1 February 2027 – Progressive implementation of tighter “reasonable and necessary” support assessments, including plan reassessments and changes to plan renewals.
From 1 April 2027 – Transition to new framework planning begins for participants.
From 1 October 2027 – Introduction of new plan management approaches.
From 1 January 2028 – Major eligibility reforms commence:
- Shift from diagnosis-based access to functional capacity assessments for new entrants
- New boundaries between the NDIS and “foundational supports” apply to prospective participants
From 1 July 2028 – Commissioned support coordination model introduced.
From 2028 (ongoing transition period) – Existing participants progressively reassessed under new eligibility and planning frameworks.
What impact will reforms have on people who are blind or vision impaired?
Implementation details on NDIS reforms are still emerging. BCA will continue to actively engage with reform progress and provide further information as details become available. Initial thoughts on implications are as follows:
1. Shift to the use of functional assessments
- Key implementation details remain unclear, including what assessment tools will be used, who will conduct assessments, and how different types of disability will be appropriately captured.
- It is critical that functional assessment tools are co-designed with, and informed by, people with lived experience of blindness and vision impairment to ensure they are fit for purpose.
- Moving to a functional capacity model aligns with the original intent of the NDIS by focusing on how disability impacts everyday life, rather than relying solely on diagnosis.
- The approach is intended to support a more holistic understanding of need and reduce gaps caused by rigid diagnostic categories, particularly for people with multiple disabilities.
- However, functional impact for people who are blind or vision impaired is highly context-dependent and there is significant concern that existing assessment tools do not fully reflect the lived experience of blindness and vision impairment.
- Assessments must consider not just whether a task can be completed, but whether it can be done safely, independently, and consistently in real-world environments.
- People who are blind or vision impaired may be less accustomed to describing their needs in functional terms and may unintentionally under-report their support requirements.
- There is a significant risk that poorly designed or implemented assessments, particularly those conducted without appropriate expertise of blindness and vision impairment, will underestimate support needs and result in reduced or less tailored supports.
- These risks are heightened for people with progressive vision conditions, where point-in-time assessments may not capture deterioration over time, potentially leading to underestimation of future need or premature exclusion from the NDIS.
- The Support Needs Assessment currently being trialled by the NDIS is somewhat different from a functional capacity assessment, but there are notable similarities. Over time, it is possible that these two processes will converge, resulting in a single assessment to determine both eligibility and the appropriate level of support.
2. Cuts to social and community participation supports
- Changes to NDIS participant budgets for social and community participation are likely to have a direct impact on participants who are blind or vision impaired as these supports are often used to enable independence.
- Reduced funding may increase the risk of social isolation and reduce access to work, volunteering, education and community life.
- Plan reductions are expected to commence from October 2026 as part of plan reassessments however it is unclear at this stage how (on what basis) reductions will occur.
3. Uncertainty around “foundational supports”
- In principle, foundational supports are meant to provide low-level, early intervention support in the community, outside of individual NDIS packages.
- However, these supports are not yet defined or operational (e.g. what they will include, who will deliver them). If foundational supports are not properly designed and resourced, there is a risk of creating a gap between the NDIS and mainstream services.
- It is not known whether people with low vision who do not meet eligibility thresholds for the NDIS will be able to access and rely on foundational supports.
4. Provider registration changes
- Safety and quality in service provision are critical. However, there is a risk that increased compliance requirements could reduce the availability of trusted and specialist providers, particularly in regional and remote areas.
- Combined with tighter funding rules, this may result in reduced choice and fewer supports being available for participants.
5. Changes to reasonable and necessary supports
- The reforms include a tightening of what the NDIS will fund, with a clearer definition of what is considered “reasonable and necessary” supports.
- Reduced flexibility in funding categories may make it harder to access essential supports if they are not clearly recognised within new funding rules.
- The Government is also introducing stronger budget structures and spending controls within plans which could affect how flexibly participants can use their funding.
- If budgets become too rigid, it may be harder to respond to changing needs (e.g. when someone’s vision deteriorates or when new technology becomes available).
6. Timing and sequencing
- Several reforms are happening at the same time (e.g. new assessments, tighter budgets, provider changes) and there are concerns that these changes may occur before new systems are ready and services are available. This could leave people without the supports they need.
What is Blind Citizens Australia advocating for?
As details on NDIS reforms emerge, BCA will develop and refine its key messaging. Key themes include:
1. Fit-for-purpose Functional Assessments
- Ensure that functional capacity assessments accurately reflect the needs of people who are blind or vision impaired.
- Ensure that the voices of people with lived experience are included in the design and development of assessments.
- Ensure assessments reflect real-world, context-based criteria that account for the everyday impact of blindness, low vision and progressive conditions.
- Require that assessors undertake specialist training in blindness and vision impairment developed by people with lived experience.
- Advocate to ensure participants can get a copy of their assessment report in an accessible format.
2. Meaningful involvement of lived experience
- Lived experience is essential to ensure reforms reflect real-world impacts.
- Ensure reforms are properly co-designed with people with disability, including people who are blind or vision impaired, and not just limited to consultation.
3. Flexibility and choice for participants
- Participants must be able to adapt supports as needs change.
- Funding must recognise the importance of specialist vision services and supports (e.g. assistive technology, training, orientation and mobility).
- Participants must retain the ability to choose and direct their own supports and providers.
4. Maintaining a strong specialist provider market
- Registration requirements must not reduce access to vision-specific services.
- Retain self-directed provider options and protect choice and control for participants.
5. Safeguarding essential supports
- Reinforce non-negotiable specialist vision supports (e.g. orientation and mobility, assistive technology, accessible information, capacity building).
- Oppose any downgrading of vision specialist supports under funding constraints.
6. Ensuring safe and staged implementation
- Advocate for appropriate sequencing of reforms. Emphasise that assessment reform must be right before eligibility tightening occurs.
- Advocate for no exit without equivalent supports in place and push for coordination between federal and state systems.
- Advocate for additional education and resources to help people understand changes to the scheme, navigate assessments, and self-advocate.
What can BCA members do?
Reforms are still being shaped, and it is important that lived experience is at the centre of that process. BCA members can:
- Stay informed about changes to the NDIS via the NDIS website.
- Participate in consultation opportunities via BCA or NDIS Engage
- Share examples of function impacts (e.g. how blindness or vision impairment impacts on your daily life) and how NDIS supports are used.
- Join advocacy campaigns and sign petitions.
BCA will use feedback from members to inform consultations and influence assessment design, legislative detail and implementation processes.