It’s expected 160,000 people will be cut off from the National Disability Insurance Scheme by 2030, as part of Federal Government plans to slash spending on the $50billion program.

Changes to eligibility rules will significantly narrow who qualifies for funding.

Families of children with speech and language disorders say they are at risk of missing out on critical early intervention or entire exclusion from the system.

Perth mother Melissa Gabrielson says her daughter was diagnosed with apraxia of speech, a rare neurological motor-planning disorder where the brain struggles to coordinate mouth, lip and tongue movements for speech.

She says accessing the NDIS for her daughter was challenging and her application was initially denied.

“It was extremely difficult. You don’t get accepted based on diagnosis, but on how someone interprets your childs needs.”

Ms Gabrielson says the cutbacks could do more harm than good if alternatives are not in place.

“If you’re going to cut them off without any alternative, you’re setting them up for failure,” she says.

Speech pathologist and founder of “online speechie” Saffira Hamilton says demand for speech therapy services will remain high, but reduced NDIS support means families will no longer be able to access the care their child needs.

She says with private therapy options often costing between $150-$400 per session, families will be left with even fewer options.

For families left without support, Ms Hamilton says Curtin University’s proposed low-cost paediatric speech clinic could provide an alternative.

The clinic is aiming to improve access to early intervention, particularly for families facing long waitlists or financial barriers.

“The clinic is for addressing the needs of children who fall through the cracks and children who can’t access private support or NDIS support,” Ms Hamilton

The clinic will treat patients from the ages of 2-18 years old, with sessions being delivered by third, and final year speech pathology students.

Ms Hamilton says students will be able to treat a range of disorders while supervised by qualified speech pathologists.

Curtin university speech pathology student Manys Al-Alyawy says the clinic will be able to address the demand that will grow alongside limited access pathways.

She says the clinic also allows parents to be more involved in sessions.

“It gives families practical tools they can use outside of therapy, which is really important considering barriers to cost,” she says.

Ms Gabrielson says considering how hard it can already be to qualify for NDIS, the impact of the clinic will be big, and will help families and children who were once in her position.