Dear Disability Discrimination Act Review Committee,
I care about disabled kids being able to access quality education at all stages of life — from childcare and school to tertiary education, State schools to private and Catholic. 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. Even autistic children with no aggressive tendencies are just wandering around the grounds with aids rather than meaningfully engaging them in the curriculum. This occurs for my son despite his IQ and his gentle nature; not to mention the $15,000 per year fees I pay to school him! He has ASD level 3 and receives NDIS but apparently this is not enough to warrant the education department to fund the private school appropriately to be able to help him with his differing needs!
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. These kids deserve better than this. My son deserves better than this.