Supporting teachers to better meet the needs of students with disability will be a focus for the Turnbull Government’s response to the 2015 Review of the Disability Standards for Education 2005.
Minister for Education and Training Senator Simon Birmingham today released the report, and the Turnbull Government’s initial response to recommendations, to coincide with International Day of People with Disability.
Minister Birmingham said the Government is committed to providing resources to boost the education sectors’ capacity to support students with disability.
“This International Day of People with Disability we are reminded that inclusion for all is important when it comes to accessing quality education,” Minister Birmingham said.
“Disability Standards for Education are in place to ensure students with disability can access and participate in education at all levels on the same basis as other Australians.
“These Standards also stipulate how education providers must be responsive to the needs of students with disability and help families understand their rights to access and participate in education and training.
“The Turnbull Government is examining the recommendations of the 2015 Review of the Disability Standards for Education 2005 and has already begun work to develop examples of practice that will help demonstrate how the Standards can be put into practice in a range of education settings.”
Minister Birmingham said ten case studies, or exemplars, will show real life situations for students with disability and how teachers can provide adjustments to help students to better participate in their learning.
“The Government has also invested almost $500,000 for two new projects to help school leaders and teachers to support students with disability and special educational needs in Australian schools,” Minister Birmingham said.
“The Leading Learning 4 All project will deliver a national leadership resource for school leaders to use as a catalyst to boost inclusive attitudes and practices in schools.
“While the Leading Learning 4 All in Practice project will help to build an inclusive learning environment in schools by providing practical guidance on how the Disability Discrimination Act and Disability Standards for Education apply in schools.
“This will include explicit learning templates and visual tools for teachers on how to best support students with special education needs.”
The Australian Special Education Principals Association is leading the two projects in collaboration with other principal and teacher professional associations. The web-based resources will be available to schools in 2016.
Minister Birmingham said he looked forwarded to working his with state and territory counterparts with a view to progressing further responses to the review’s recommendations through Education Council.
Both the Final Report on the 2015 Review of the Disability Standards for Education 2005 and the Australian Government’s Initial Response are available at:
https://education.gov.au/disability-standards-education
Senator Birmingham’s media contact: James Murphy 0478 333 974
Department Media: media@education.gov.au