18 June 2026
Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) has responded to the Senate inquiry into recent NDIS reform proposals, warning that the changes risk undermining the independence of people who are blind or vision impaired.
BCA says the proposals prioritise cost-cutting over disability outcomes and will reduce access to supports that enable people to live safely, participate in the community and maintain independence.
Under the proposed reforms, funding for Social, Civic and Community Participation (SCCP) supports would be cut by 50 per cent. BCA argues these supports enable people who are blind or vision impaired to travel safely, access their communities, maintain social connections and participate in everyday life.
“These reforms are not just administrative adjustments. They are a structural shift away from independence and inclusion,” BCA CEO Deb Deshayes said.
“The government has proposed halving funding for social and community participation supports, despite its own analysis showing people with visual impairment are among those most likely to be affected.
“If these reforms proceed in their current form, the NDIS will no longer be a system that enables independence. That is not what Australians were promised, and it is not what people who are blind or vision impaired need.”
BCA’s submission argues that community participation supports are fundamental to independence and wellbeing for people who are blind or vision impaired, helping to prevent isolation, injury, deterioration and exclusion.
The organisation also warns that reducing supports without fully funded mainstream alternatives will increase pressure on families and carers, while driving greater demand for health and mental health services.
“The idea that social and community participation is somehow non-essential ignores the reality of living with blindness or vision impairment,” BCA National Policy Committee Chair Stefan Slucki said.
“These supports prevent isolation, injury and deterioration. They are not lifestyle extras, they are what make it possible to participate in society at all. Reclassifying them as optional is a step backwards.
“When supports are removed, the burden doesn’t disappear. It lands on families, carers and already stretched health systems. That is not reform – it is cost-shifting disguised as efficiency.”
BCA is calling on the government to abandon the proposed cuts, warning they would strip away essential supports and undermine the independence of people who are blind or vision impaired.
Media Contact:
Amila Dedovic – Communications Coordinator
amila.dedovic@bca.org.au
0403 967 406