cda release may 28 disability standards

Thursday, May 28, 2015 CDA to tell Disability Standards in Education Review that school system is failing children with disability Children with disability are being failed by the Australian school system, CDA will tell a Federal Government Review into Disability Standards in Education in Melbourne today. CDA ceo Stephanie Gotlib said that under-resourced schools were excluding students with disability and failing to offer the education needed. “The situation is a crisis for thousands of students with families needing to constantly battle to get an education for their children. We currently have a school system that is under-resourced and does not allow children with disability to exercise their right to an education,” Ms Gotlib said. “This Review needs to recognise that, and more importantly governments need to act to address it.” “It must not be used as a box-ticking exercise, but to deliver real change in the way we treat children with disability in our school system.” The Review of the Disability Standards for Education is conducted every five years. The Standards “seek to ensure that students with disability are able to access and participate in education on the same basis as students without disability. On the same basis means that a student with disability must have opportunities and choices which are comparable with those offered to students without disability. Ms Gotlib said that a recent CDA survey of parents of children with disability found that the education system is failing to offer these opportunities. “Our survey of parents found that 68% believe their children are not receiving adequate support at school. One in four children with disability has been refused enrolment at some point, and a further 17% are only offered part-time enrolment. “The survey exposed exclusion of students with disability on a day-to-day basis: 39% of respondents said that children with disability were regularly excluded from school activities, such as excursions, playground at recess and lunch, school discos and after-school clubs and classes”. “Schools do not have the resources, and many teachers do not have the knowledge and training to properly educate students with disability. “CDA is also concerned about the tight timelines for the Review which will make it difficult for many students and families to make submissions.” Media Contact: Stephanie Gotlib 0425 724 230

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CDA Release May 28 Disability Standards

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Thursday, May 28, 2015

CDA to tell Disability Standards in Education Review that school system is failing children with disability

Children with disability are being failed by the Australian school system, CDA will tell a Federal Government Review into Disability Standards in Education in Melbourne today.

CDA ceo Stephanie Gotlib said that under-resourced schools were excluding students with disability and failing to offer the education needed.

The situation is a crisis for thousands of students with families needing to constantly battle to get an education for their children. We currently have a school system that is under-resourced and does not allow children with disability to exercise their right to an education, Ms Gotlib said.

This Review needs to recognise that, and more importantly governments need to act to address it.

It must not be used as a box-ticking exercise, but to deliver real change in the way we treat children with disability in our school system.

The Review of the Disability Standards for Education is conducted every five years. The Standards seek to ensure that students with disability are able to access and participate in education on the same basis as students without disability. On the same basis means that a student with disability must have opportunities and choices which are comparable with those offered to students without disability.

Ms Gotlib said that a recent CDA survey of parents of children with disability found that the education system is failing to offer these opportunities.

Our survey of parents found that 68% believe their children are not receiving adequate support at school. One in four children with disability has been refused enrolment at some point, and a further 17% are only offered part-time enrolment.

The survey exposed exclusion of students with disability on a day-to-day basis: 39% of respondents said that children with disability were regularly excluded from school activities, such as excursions, playground at recess and lunch, school discos and after-school clubs and classes.

Schools do not have the resources, and many teachers do not have the knowledge and training to properly educate students with disability.

CDA is also concerned about the tight timelines for the Review which will make it difficult for many students and families to make submissions.

Media Contact: Stephanie Gotlib 0425 724 230