Schools telling disabled children to stay at home

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Any input from our Australian online friends?

Irma

RE:

Schools telling disabled children to stay at home

e Ferrari, Education writer | August 26, 2009

Article from: The Australian

SCHOOLS are turning children with disabilities into part-time students by

restricting their attendance hours in breach of anti-discrimination laws.

Some school principals are limiting the time disabled students are in class to

match the hours a teacher's aide or other assistance is available, Macquarie and

Sydney university researchers have found.

The study, based on surveys with principals in mainstream schools in city and

rural areas of NSW, identified several practices that breach education and

anti-discrimination laws.

The breaches included negotiating with parents to limit a child's attendance,

sending children directly to doctors to obtain a diagnosis without parental

approval and pressuring parents to enrol their children in other schools or

support classes.

The study also highlights the subjective nature of labelling children with

behavioural problems -- responsible for a rise in the number of students with

disabilities. One principal was quoted as saying: " Well, a behaviour problem at

(this school) would be a child who just doesn't do what he's told. "

Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graham Innes said the practice -- which

advocacy workers confirmed occurred routinely in schools -- was in breach of the

act.

The study, presented earlier this year by Macquarie University academic

Graham at a conference of the American Educational Research Association,

highlighted the case of a six-year-old boy whose days at school were reduced

after the principal entered into a private negotiation with his parents.

" We had a little boy in Year 1 who absolutely refused to do what he was told, "

the principal is quoted as saying. " We came to an agreement that every Tuesday

and Thursday, (the boy) stayed at home ... and he only came (to school) Monday,

Wednesday and Friday.

" We could only get funding for a maximum three days, no matter how bad he was,

so that left us in limbo for two days. "

Mr Innes said he had received similar complaints and the Disability

Discrimination Act required schools to make reasonable adjustments to

accommodate students with disabilities, ranging from technology or ramps to

teachers aides and sign language interpreters.

" The availability of time of a teacher's aide shouldn't determine whether or not

a kid is at school, " he said. " A child should be at school and receiving an

education unless there's a valid educational reason not to be there, such as

going to another facility or school. On the face of it, it's a breach of the

law. "

from Melbourne's Disability Discrimination Legal Service said the

practice was routine in and she was aware of similar problems in

Queensland and NSW.

The n Education Department is fighting a Federal Court action brought by

a 13-year-old boy -- who suffers autism, dyslexia and attention deficit disorder

-- over its failure to provide him with a full-time education.

Family Advocacy, a NSW disability advocacy organisation, said the practice had

been widespread in NSW but the state education department had clamped down in

recent years.

However, a spokeswoman, Belinda Epstein-Frisch, said schools still commonly

persuaded parents to take their children elsewhere.

" There are many messages that can be given to a parent to say the school feels

they don't have the knowledge, skills or resources to include a child, " she

said.

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http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25982712-5013404,00.html