Dear Disability Discrimination Act Review Committee,
| am a parent of a child who has ADHD, PTSD & DV Survivor that has been suspended 2 times,
the recent being end of term 3 this year because the school doesn’t follow their Individual Behaviour Support Plan or their Anti-bullying rules. My son brought a vape of a ‘friend’ from school (among many others that also did the same thing) in an attempt to because he was getting bullied at school all year and that bullying went home online from the same
people… encouraging him to Soasa result he and the school suspended him
for 15 days (other kids got 10days… suspended week 9 term 3 & went back week 2 term4). The
school did nothing after | advised everything & why. Nore did they follow through on any
commitments they made to me to help chase once back at school. The bullies weren’t ever punished either & as a (single) parent I’m left to find help & take matters into my own hands.
| 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 | believe every
student deserves the right to learn in an inclusive environment. | 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.
| urge the government to strengthen the Act so students with disability — and all students — can
fully exercise their right to learn, together.
Yours sincerely,
Taylor O’Neill