Dear Disability Discrimination Act Review Committee,
As a parent of two children with neurodiversity, I see the value of the right to inclusion - and the challenges from schools not being equiped to support kids with disability appropriately.
When my 7 son, with autism, ADHD and anxiety was sent home from year 1 for hitting a teacher
- I asked why the teacher had not made the classroom adjustments my son is known to need. And if not, what training the teacher would receive to support children with neurodiversity.
When my 11 year old daughter (non-verbal, ID, incredibly social and joyous), was sent home for throwing her shoes over a balcony and cursing while refusing to transition between activities, I asked whether the school had trained the teachers aides on multimodal communication, or any techniques for supporting transitions in kids with disability. There was no structured approach.
In both cases, the child’s behaviour was the result of the staff not following Ed QLD best practices.
In neither case will being sent home result in improved behaviour. They need environments appropriate for kids with sensory sensitivity. Then need teachers aware of how to create structured, differentiated classrooms.
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.