Dear Disability Discrimination Act Review Committee, I work with a young man with Autism as his support worker. I also have many disabled friends and children of friends.
I have witnessed people thrive when given appropriate supports and also the stories of what can happen when people are excluded from education and society and fall through the cracks.
I care about disabled people being able to access quality education at all stages of life — from childcare and school to tertiary education. I’m making this submission because I believe every student deserves the right to learn in an inclusive environment. I support the A Right to Learn campaign’s call for suspensions and exclusions to be used only as a last resort.
Students with disability should be learning alongside their peers, not separated from them.
Protect the right to learn:
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Section 22(2)(b) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) should be amended to cover ‘suspension and exclusion’ as well as expulsions.
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The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) and associated Disability Standards for Education should be amended to require education authorities avoid exclusionary discipline unless it is necessary as a last resort to avert serious harm to the student, other students, or staff.
I urge the government to strengthen the Act so students with disability — and all students — can fully exercise their right to learn, together.
Yours sincerely,