Under strain, Australia's world-leading disability support faces major restructure

Image source, SuppliedImage caption, Annabelle Shaw relies on NDIS funding to support activities that help her live a normal life ByKaty WatsonAustralia correspondent Annabelle Shaw is hockey-obsessed and on a winning streak, scoring eight goals this season for her team, the Panthers."I don't give up," she says proudly, adding that whenever she scores, she celebrates with a cartwheel.And when Annabelle's not on the pitch, she's down at the gym. She likes nothing more than working out with her friends.But Annabelle may soon have to stop playing her favourite sport.The Year 8 student from Western Australia has Down Syndrome – a genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 which leads to physical and intellectual disabilities. This enables her to access funding through one of the world's most progressive disability support programmes, the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme).Aimed at people with lifelong and severe disabilities, NDIS was created to ensure disabled Australians had greater independence and an improved quality of life.Its design ushered in a very different approach to disability support – by providing people with funding based on their individual nee...