NOTING the existing protections for disabled people
BELIEVING that more extensive provisions for the support of disabled people within educational environments in particular are needed
DESIRING to provide a firm framework of said support
EXPECTING that the principle of equal rights for disabled people be embedded the the educational systems of WA nations
DEFINING a disabled person as one who has a long-term physical or mental health condition which significantly impairs their ability to function within society
HEREBY declares the following:
- All disabled students should be educated in as mainstream an environment as is possible within the confines of their condition
- The above means that specialist units within mainstream schools should be used rather than special schools unless a specialist school is absolutely needed
- Cost factors are not an adequate excuse for non-compliance with the above
- Disabled students, including adults, must be furnished with the equipment and human support needed to complete their course of study, at any level. This can include loaned equipment.
- Support is forfeit if the student fails to attend on a regular basis, unless they have a legitimate excuse, including, but not limited to, medical problems and family bereavement
- The curriculum for disabled students must be set in order to challenge all students in a class
- Classes are encouraged to be set by development level rather than by age
- Discipline of disabled students must take into account their disability and a disabled student should not be disciplined for an action that they could not control
- All teachers must receive training to allow them to support disabled students better. This should be appropriate for their role with specialist teachers receiving more training.
