Students with Disabilities Seek Legislation Changes

ABC News, 18 March 2010

Hundreds of children with disabilities from government and non-government schools, along with their parents and teachers, marched on Parliament House this week, demanding that the Australian Government include extra funding for special needs schools in its education revolution.

The protest organisers said that they wanted a long-term funding model to be set up that adequately recognises the costs of educating children with disabilities, as well as legislation that guarantees all disabilities placements in schools will meet student needs, similar to the system in the United Kingdom.

Australian Government Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Ms Julia Gillard, met with representatives of disability education providers on Thursday, and has said that the stimulus programs meant older school buildings were being upgraded.

Opposition education spokesman Christopher Pyne told the students the Howard government didn't do enough for their schools, but claimed that ‘when we win government again ... children with special needs will be one of our absolute highest priorities.

 

 

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