48. 'Not Disabled Enough?’ — The NDIS Changes Every Parent Needs to Hear with Senator Jordon Steele-John

❌ “Not disabled enough.” ❌ “Not lifelong.”

If you’ve ever been told your child is “not disabled enough” for support — you’re not alone. And you’re not failing them.

That’s what too many families are hearing through NDIS reforms — while kids who mask or “hold it together” risk losing the supports that keep households afloat. This episode unpacks what the changes actually mean, where the gaps are, and how to push back with lived experience at the centre.

What We Cover in This Episode

• What “not disabled enough” and “not lifelong” decisions look like on the ground for ADHD and autistic families
• How NDIS reviews measure parental burnout instead of real need
• Why kids who mask (or parents who try to stay positive in reviews) can be penalised
• Senator Jordon Steele-John’s lived experience with ADHD and disability advocacy
• What the proposed Thriving Kids program could mean — and the unanswered questions
• How parents can use advocacy, templates, and submissions to push back

This Episode Is For You If

• Your child has been told they’re “not disabled enough” or “not lifelong” for NDIS
• You’ve felt crushed by reviews that demand proof of struggle before support
• You’re scared your child’s ability to mask will cost them the help they need
• You’re trying to make sense of the new Thriving Kids program
• You want to hear from a politician with both lived experience and a plan to fight back

References & Resources Mentioned

• NDIS Free Resources → (guides, templates, and jotforms to help parents navigate the changes)
• NDIS Jot form - document your experience
• Parliamentary Inquiry into the NDIS — open for submissions now
• Full webpage of all Jane's NDIS advocacy work here

Related Episodes

• 🎧 NDIS is making psychology support harder to access and the new budget rules: Spotify | Apple Podcast

✨ Listen now: Not Disabled Enough — The NDIS Changes Every Parent Needs to Hear (with Senator Jordon Steele-John) — on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and adhdmums.com.au — because parents deserve support, not shame.

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