Seminar highlights needs of disabled students

A seminar hosted by Southern Cross University's Centre for Children and Young People has highlighted the problems faced by students with a disability, their parents and teachers within the education system.

The seminar, jointly hosted with Southern Cross University's School of Law and Justice, was attended by school teachers, parents and students. Speakers included Professor Jim Jackson, from the School of Law and Justice, Marcia Conroy, a social worker with a disability, from the United Kingdom, Mrs Val Thomas, deputy principal of Trinity Catholic College, and a local student, Jarred Heyning.

Professor Jackson said while many access issues had been resolved, there were still many other areas in which students with disabilities missed out at school.

"The most significant outcome we found was that parents and students still don't know their rights. More work needs to be done to improve communication between young people with disabilities and the schools, and to educate the children about their rights and educate the schools about their rights and duties," Professor Jackson said.

Jarred said young people with disabilities were often lumped together. He encouraged teachers to get to know students with disabilities as individuals and to understand that a physical disability did not mean an intellectual disability.

Professor Jackson said there was a danger that students with disabilities were missing out on important social and sporting opportunities, which formed an integral part of a person's education.

"Schools are worried about safety and legal issues and the avoidance of negligence, but that can lead to quite awful outcomes for disabled children. There needs to be a little bit more common sense.

"The parents have nothing but praise for some of the teachers, but they are constantly coming up against the bureaucracy."

Professor Jackson said for teachers, behaviour linked to a disability was the most common concern.

The Centre for Children and Young People is now hoping to host a wider forum in which to address some of the issues raised at the seminar in order to provide information and support to young people with disabilities, parents, teachers and other professionals. For information about the seminar visit the website: http://www.ccyp.scu.edu.au