Held back
A Victorian report has found six out of ten students with a disability are bullied at school. It also found half of all students with a disability and their parents reported discrimination at school. The report is by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. It looked at how students with disabilities are coping in government, Catholic and independent schools throughout Victoria. More than 1,800 students, parents and educators were involved in the study. There are more than 100,000 students with disabilities in Victorian schools.
Posted by: Phoebe Tay, on 12/10/12
Students with disabilities are held back.
Six out of 10 students with a disability said they have been bullied at school according to a Victorian report released two weeks ago.
The report also found half of all students with a disability and their parents reported discrimination at the school.
One in five parents who said discrimination had occurred did not complain because they were fearful of negative consequences for themselves or their child.
The report Held Back, The experiences of students with disabilities in Victorian schools
looked at how well students with disabilities are coping in government, Catholic and independent schools.
It was commissioned by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
More than 1,800 students, parents and educators participated in the study.
There are more than 100,000 students with disabilities in Victoria.
Acting Commissioner Karen Toohey said the Commission found students' experiences are largely influenced by which school they go to, which teacher they have and the knowledge and attitudes of their school towards disabilities.
Despite the rhetoric around every child having the right to a fair go, the educational needs of students with disabilities are often not being met
, Toohey said.
The report found one in four educators witnessed discrimination against students and about 40 per cent of educators were ignorant of their legal obligations to students with disabilities.
Their obligations come under the Disability Standards for Education 2005.
Educational disadvantage
Held back
found that there is no existing system-wide way of measuring, or being accountable for, educational outcomes for students with disabilities in Victorian schools.
Toohey highlighted the current education system is is a hit and miss approach
as it has not guaranteed the best access to education especially for children with disabilities.
She pointed out that when students with disabilities do not have proper accommodations that ensure quality education, their potential to achieve and future is seriously hampered.
She was hopeful the report would raise greater awareness that the needs of students with disabilities are not being adequately addressed and that further reform needs to happen.
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