Research Conducted at University of Queensland Has Provided New Information about Disability and Health (Vertical and Horizontal Equity In Support for Children With Disabilities: a Cross-sectional Analysis of Australia’s National Disability …): Health and Medicine – Disability and Health

2026 JUL 09 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health & Medicine Daily -- Current study results on Health and Medicine - Disability and Health have been published. According to news reporting originating from St. Lucia, Australia, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Children with disabilities face persistent disadvantages in health, participation, and development. In Australia, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a central funding mechanism for disability support.”

Financial supporters for this research include University of Queensland Strategic Funding for the 360-Kids Community Network Health Accelerator (HERA), Australian Research Council, National Disability Services, National Disability Insurance Agency, National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia, Australian Research Council.

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from the University of Queensland, “Equity is an explicit principle of the NDIS, yet concerns remain about whether access and experiences are equitable. This study examines equity in three outcomes of NDIS support for children with disabilities: (1) whether the child has a NDIS plan, (2) the level of plan funding, and (3) parental satisfaction with NDIS supports. We assess these outcomes through the lens of vertical and horizontal equity. Data come from the 2024 Better Support for Kids with Disabilities survey (N = 688 parents of children aged 2-17 years with disabilities). Logistic regression was used to model NDIS participation, ordinal logistic regression to model plan value, and linear regression to model satisfaction. Children with greater functional limitations were more likely to have a NDIS plan and to receive higher funding, indicating partial vertical equity. However, parents of children with greater functional limitations reported lower satisfaction. Horizontal equity was largely supported for the NDIS plan and funding outcomes, with few systematic disparities after accounting for functional limitations. Parents of older children, with fewer financial resources, and families including adults with disabilities reported lower satisfaction. The NDIS appropriately directs greater resources toward children with higher needs, but inequities persist in satisfaction and experiences of support.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Addressing disparities in navigation and service quality is essential to achieving equitable outcomes for all children with disabilities.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Vertical and Horizontal Equity In Support for Children With Disabilities: a Cross-sectional Analysis of Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme. Disability and Health Journal, 2026;19(3). Disability and Health Journal can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Inc, Ste 800, 230 Park Ave, New York, NY 10169, USA. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Disability and Health Journal - http://www.journals.elsevier.com/disability-and-health-journal/)

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Martin O’Flaherty, University of Queensland, Hlth & Wellbeing Ctr Res Innovat, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, St. Lucia, Australia. Additional authors for this research include Jessica Hill and Jennifer Smith-Merry.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2026.102073. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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