Australians will die if proposed changes to the disability support scheme are introduced, federal politicians have been warned.
A parliamentary inquiry is holding a number of hearings to hear feedback from the disability sector about planned changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Samantha Connor, who has muscular dystrophy, told the inquiry she was worried about independent assessments being introduced but also back-up generators not being funded by NDIS plans.
"I don't think that's the only way people will die under the changes proposed to the NDIS," she told the inquiry on Tuesday.
Ms Connor reminded politicians about two 25-year-old men with muscular dystrophy who relied on ventilators to breathe while they slept.
They died after a storm cut power and a support worker did not wake up to turn on a back-up generator.
Ms Connor flagged concerns independent assessments were being introduced to save money, saying it was not long ago the government boasted about a $4.2 billion underspend in the scheme.
"I've never once heard that Medicare was unsustainable. We have a universal right to health care," she said.
"I'm unsure why we are even having an inquiry, the entire disability sector is unified in saying this is a bad thing.
"We are united in saying that this plan is flawed, that there has been no co-design and that it will negatively impact people with disability and their families."
The government has agreed to halt the rollout of independent assessments until the sector is consulted and feedback from trials are considered.
In its submission to the inquiry, People With Disabilities WA say evaluations of the trial should occur independently from the government body that runs the NDIS, the National Disability Insurance Agency.
Alternative ways to make access and planning more consistent should also be explored, the group says.
"We believe the proposed changes will further exacerbate the entrenched disadvantage experienced by many of the people we support and expose them to an increased risk of harm," they said.
"(The changes) will not achieve the NDIA's espoused intent, and will further increase the burden on the advocacy sector."
The government wants to have new entrants to the NDIS independently assessed by approved doctors to determine what level of support they need.
Existing participants having their plans reviewed would also be assessed.
The NDIS costs about $94 billion over four years to run, with funding split between federal and state governments.
Other organisations appearing on Tuesday include the Western Australia Association for Mental Health, Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre and the Autism Association of Western Australia.
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