Imagine a women's rights agency run by a board of men.
Or an indigenous welfare group managed by non-indigenous people.
This is the situation that those in the disability sector say is facing them.
They're concerned about changes to the board of the agency overseeing the National Disability Insurance Scheme, principally that very few of the new faces know what it's like to live with an impairment.
The posts have yet to be finalised but some of the nominees include executives from the financial services, telecommunications, tourism and community sectors.
The man credited as one of those behind the scheme's birth, Bruce Bonyhady will be replaced by Helen Nugent, the chair of credit reporting agency Veda Group.
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations says the NDIS is at its heart a scheme about people with disability.
"Imagine the community uproar if the government decided to appoint only men to an agency focusing on the wellbeing and rights of women," president Trevor Carroll said in a statement.
However, AAP understands at least two of the potential new faces have a lived experience with disability.
There are also concerns the corporate-heavy new board could prompt a trimming of the $22 billion scheme's budget.
A succession of Labor MPs used federal parliament to criticise the "purging" of the board.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said it didn't pass "corporate governance 101" to replace a quality chairman at such a critical juncture of the scheme's rollout.
"The shabby way this government is seeking to force a great Australian out of the door is nothing short of disgraceful," he said.
It's understood Mr Bonyhady had sought another extension to his job and has expressed concern about the board's corporatisation.
In a statement he warned against cuts, saying the scheme's insurance model was a challenge for governments used to running disability welfare programs that can be cut in response to short-term pressures.
The NDIS required co-operation between people with disability, families, carers, service providers and governments if it's to be successful, he added.
"There will be continuing challenges but the significant outcomes are worth it."
