Without the NDIS Karni Liddell would be, in her own words, a 40-year-old single mother living at home.
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Despite her success as a two-time Paralympian she said she was once "desperate" for support until the NDIS changed her life.
The NDIS ambassador hopes by sharing her successes, challenges and how she navigated the system, other people with disabilities can have the same opportunities as she did.
"With the right services most people with disabilities can and should live a good life and often the most disabling thing about having a disability is other peoples attitudes and assumptions about what we can and can't do," she told The Border Mail before speaking in Albury on Wednesday at a Aspire Support Services event.
"Often times when people with disabilities are born we are seen as less than - not wanted.
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"I was really lucky that I was born into a family that really set me up for a successful, happy, fulfilling life and not everyone is as lucky as I am.
"I guess that in sharing my story it is about showing that my life is what a NDIS package could produce."
Ms Liddell was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy as a 1-year-old.
Her parents were told that she would not walk or crawl, let alone swim, and was unlikely to live beyond her teenage years.
Ms Liddell went on to represent Australia in swimming in two Paralympic Games and continues to be an ambassador for people with disabilities.
"Even though there is a lot of chatter about it and negativity in the press, if you actually look at the NDIS stats most of us that have packages are very happy," she said.
"Navigating the system is absolutely the hardest part and then you have to find the people to support you and all the equipment.
"It all takes time and that is the most frustrating thing."
Australia is one of the worst in the western world when it comes to employment of disabled people and the statistic is labelled as "disgusting" by Ms Liddell.
"We want to do everything everyone else does, but right now in this country we can't," she said.
"It has to change and people's mindsets need to change for that to happen - we need employment like everyone else."
