Disability Programs

The NSW Department of Education and Training has a statement of commitment to people with disabilities:

Statement of Commitment to People with Disabilities

Goal: A society in which individuals with disabilities and their carers live as full citizens with optimum quality of life, independence and participation. (NSW Government Disability Framework 1998)

Education is the foundation of an informed and just society, the key to overcoming social inequalities and to achieving the Government's social justice objectives. (NSW Charter for Education and Training)

Our commitment to each individual is to provide the knowledge, understanding, skills and values for a productive and rewarding life. (NSW Department of Education and Training Disability Action Plan 2004-2006)

Students With Disabilities

Students with disabilities in Government schools may be enrolled in a range of locations which include:

• regular classes
• support classes in regular schools
• special schools

Information about services for students with disabilities in NSW Public Schools is contained in the publication Who's Going To Teach My Child: A Guide For Parents Of Students With Special Learning Needs.

Just Like Us: A Resource for Student Representative Councils (SRCs) and Student Leaders (2001) (pdf 1.14mb) is a resource to promote the inclusion of students with disabilities in school communities.

This article, by Brian Smyth King, Director Disability Programs for DET NSW, was published in SCAN in August 2005.

Information about services for students experiencing difficulty in learning: see the Learning Assistance Program.

From 2007, every special education class will have a teacher as well as a teacher’s aide.

The Department of Education and Training will be introducing changes over the next year to improve the learning environment for students with special needs and their teachers.

This $15 million NSW Government initiative will provide significant support for teachers and students in special needs classes. At the moment, many special education classes do not have a teacher’s aide. With the extra support, these changes will make classrooms safer for staff and students.

The changes have come about after extensive consultation with parent, teacher and disability groups. Under the initiative, maximum class numbers may rise by one student, however all classes will soon have two adults – a teacher and a teacher’s aide.

Parents will continue to have the choice of the type of class their child attends. That means no child with a disability will be forced into a regular class. If a parent wants their child to stay in a special needs class, they will continue to have that opportunity.

The Department of Education and Training conducted an audit this year which found that some special needs classes operate well below their capacity – for example, some classes only have one or two students.

Early next term, regional staff will consult with parents, principals and teachers to determine if there is a need to change the arrangement of these classes. Only a small number of special education classes may need to be rearranged as a result of the regional consultation process. These classes could either become part of another special education class within their school, or merge with a special education class in another school. This process will only take place after local consultation to make sure individual needs and circumstances are fully considered.

There will be no reduction in the number of places for students with moderate and severe disabilities. No child with a disability will be forced into a regular class and no special education teacher will lose their job as a result of this initiative. If a parent wants their child to stay in a special education class, their child will be accommodated.

Regional consultation with parents and teachers will begin at the start of Term 4. Please feel free to contact your regional office if you have any further questions before the new school term begins.

NOTE: This page is undergoing redevelopment. New material will be included progressively as it becomes available.