Leo
07-12-2003, 06:18 PM
School disability access under spotlight
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AM - Saturday, 12 July , 2003 08:18:06
Reporter: David Weber
HAMISH ROBERTSON: Groups representing people with disabilities have welcomed the Federal Government's commitment to implement plans for greater access to schools.
At this week's Education Ministers' Conference in Perth, the State and Territories agreed in principle to bring in disability standards for education, which, it's hoped, will help end discrimination against disabled people.
The sticking point was over who will actually pay. But the Federal Government believes the States have exaggerated the costs of the changes.
David Weber reports.
DAVID WEBER: One of the key changes is that a school will only be able to refuse enrolment on the grounds that it will suffer unjustifiable hardship at the time. In the past, the school would have only had to predict there'd be unjustifiable hardship down the track.
Graham Smith is a Melbourne teacher who had a spinal cord injury when he was 22. Mr Smith's been lobbying for the standards to be introduced so that institutional discrimination can be stopped.
GRAHAM SMITH: Once they are in place, and once the providers implement them, will ensure the students with disabilities don't experience that discrimination and that they can then go on and move to higher levels of education, move out into the community and move into things like employment. And it will perhaps result in social change.
DAVID WEBER: Most of the states and territories are concerned about unforeseen costs. They want a shared commitment to funding the changes to personnel and infrastructure. But the Federal Education Minister says the Commonwealth will act to bring in the standards, and it's up to the States to find the money.
The Executive Director of the group, People with Disabilities, Kay Regan, says the move breaks the stalemate in what's been a long-running issue. Ms Regan's assisted many parents who've faced barriers in trying their kids into schools.
KAY REGAN: Getting the child actually enrolled in the school is the first battle. Getting assistance by, from an aid if the child needs help with personal care issues, that sort of thing. Sometimes even when a child is actually included in a normal classroom, they may not get the attention that they need. We've heard of children, you know, who've sat for a whole year sitting in a corner drawing.
DAVID WEBER: Ms Regan hopes the reforms will lead into a major change in attitudes in educational institutions around the country. But she expects it'll take a long time.
KAY REGAN: There can be a certain degree of victimisation, as you can imagine, in a classroom situation, or harassment of other students and discrimination, all of those things occur. And as you can imagine, it's terribly stressful for the student and for the parents. And there needs to be a recognition that these children have, should have the same rights as everybody else's children.
HAMISH ROBERTSON: Kay Regan, the Executive Director of the group People with Disabilities, speaking to David Weber.
PRINT FRIENDLY EMAIL STORY
AM - Saturday, 12 July , 2003 08:18:06
Reporter: David Weber
HAMISH ROBERTSON: Groups representing people with disabilities have welcomed the Federal Government's commitment to implement plans for greater access to schools.
At this week's Education Ministers' Conference in Perth, the State and Territories agreed in principle to bring in disability standards for education, which, it's hoped, will help end discrimination against disabled people.
The sticking point was over who will actually pay. But the Federal Government believes the States have exaggerated the costs of the changes.
David Weber reports.
DAVID WEBER: One of the key changes is that a school will only be able to refuse enrolment on the grounds that it will suffer unjustifiable hardship at the time. In the past, the school would have only had to predict there'd be unjustifiable hardship down the track.
Graham Smith is a Melbourne teacher who had a spinal cord injury when he was 22. Mr Smith's been lobbying for the standards to be introduced so that institutional discrimination can be stopped.
GRAHAM SMITH: Once they are in place, and once the providers implement them, will ensure the students with disabilities don't experience that discrimination and that they can then go on and move to higher levels of education, move out into the community and move into things like employment. And it will perhaps result in social change.
DAVID WEBER: Most of the states and territories are concerned about unforeseen costs. They want a shared commitment to funding the changes to personnel and infrastructure. But the Federal Education Minister says the Commonwealth will act to bring in the standards, and it's up to the States to find the money.
The Executive Director of the group, People with Disabilities, Kay Regan, says the move breaks the stalemate in what's been a long-running issue. Ms Regan's assisted many parents who've faced barriers in trying their kids into schools.
KAY REGAN: Getting the child actually enrolled in the school is the first battle. Getting assistance by, from an aid if the child needs help with personal care issues, that sort of thing. Sometimes even when a child is actually included in a normal classroom, they may not get the attention that they need. We've heard of children, you know, who've sat for a whole year sitting in a corner drawing.
DAVID WEBER: Ms Regan hopes the reforms will lead into a major change in attitudes in educational institutions around the country. But she expects it'll take a long time.
KAY REGAN: There can be a certain degree of victimisation, as you can imagine, in a classroom situation, or harassment of other students and discrimination, all of those things occur. And as you can imagine, it's terribly stressful for the student and for the parents. And there needs to be a recognition that these children have, should have the same rights as everybody else's children.
HAMISH ROBERTSON: Kay Regan, the Executive Director of the group People with Disabilities, speaking to David Weber.