Students with Disability

How ACT public schools support students

The ACT Government has developed an Inclusive Education Strategy and Action Plan to strengthen inclusive education across all ACT public schools. The Strategy is based on what we heard from children, young people, parents, caregivers and school staff, and research about inclusive education.

To help strengthen inclusive education for students with disability, Inclusion Coaches will begin working across the Tuggeranong region in 2024, with the program expected to expand across more schools in the future. Inclusion Coaches were funded in the 2023-24 ACT Budget.

Reasonable adjustments for those who need them

ACT public schools make reasonable adjustments for all students who need them, regardless of whether the child or young person has a diagnosed disability. Adjustments are actions that help a student to take part in education on the same basis as other students.

Reasonable adjustments may be made in the following areas: planning; teaching and learning; curriculum; assessment; reporting; extracurricular activities; environment and infrastructure; and resources.

For example, a student receiving reasonable adjustments might receive closer supervision on the playground, modified study and assessment materials, access to assistive technology, help with mobility or personal hygiene, or extra support from a Learning Support Assistant.

Find out more about reasonable adjustments in schools, including case studies, on the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability NCCD) website.

The Education Directorate’s School Psychology Service and Allied Health Service help schools to identify and use evidence-based reasonable adjustments. Speech pathologists, occupational therapists, social workers, physiotherapists and allied health assistants work in the Allied Health Service.

Our teachers and school staff can access a wide range of professional learning about inclusive education.

Specific disability programs available in ACT public schools

All students with disability are welcome and encouraged to attend their local public school. At their local school they will be supported to take part in their education with reasonable adjustments.

Some students with disability are eligible to access specific disability programs.

These are:

• The Inclusion Support Program, which resources reasonable adjustments in a general education classroom with same-aged peers.
• Hearing and Vision support, for students who are Deaf/deaf or hard of hearing and/or students who have vision impairment or low vision.
• A disability education program, which typically offers a smaller class size, a quiet space for regulation, as well as time learning with same-aged peers. All students eligible for a disability education program are also eligible for the Inclusion Support Program.
• A specialist school, for students with moderate, severe or profound intellectual disability. All students eligible for a specialist school are also eligible for a disability education program or the Inclusion Support Program.

Eligibility for these programs is set out in the ACT Student Disability Criteria (300kb). For some students an adaptive functioning assessment is also needed. Every ACT public school has access to a school psychologist who can help explain program eligibility to families. When a student is eligible for more than one program, parents and caregivers will make the decision about which program for the student.

To access a disability program, students’ needs are assessed in a Student Centred Appraisal of Need (SCAN). This happens after the student has started attending an ACT public school. The SCAN helps to determine the extent of the student’s needs at school in areas including communication, mobility, personal care and safety, social development and curriculum. The assessment involves input from parents and caregivers in a meeting format guided by a trained moderator. Read more about this process in a booklet (386kb) that has been prepared for parents, caregivers and staff.

It is important to remember that any student who needs adjustments will receive them. They do not need to be eligible for a disability program.

Funding for students with disability is used flexibly within schools to support the provision of programs and reasonable adjustments for all. It is not attached to individual students at the school level.

Individual Learning Plans

Students who access disability programs have an Individual Learning Plan (ILP). An ILP helps to identify Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound (SMART) goals and list adjustments to achieve these goals.

The ILP is developed by a team who work together. Typically, the team will include:

• the student (where possible)
• parents or caregivers
• principal or delegate
• Disability Education Coordination Officer (DECO) or executive teacher
• the student’s classroom teacher/s and
• other support staff where appropriate.

ILPs are living documents that are regularly monitored, reviewed and updated. Meetings with families usually happen twice a year: initially to create the plan and later to review the plan.

Early identification in preschool and early childhood education and care

The Education Directorate employs a Preschool Pathway Partners (PPP) team. The PPPs work with staff in preschool or early childhood education and care settings, when there are children who have, or might have, a developmental delay and/or disability. The PPPs help to build educator and staff knowledge and confidence to use inclusive practices, plan transitions and help children and families.

ACT Government preschools also receive extra funding for reasonable adjustments for children in these settings.

From 2024, Canberra families with three-year-old children will be able to receive 300 hours of free preschool at identified Partner Provider early childhood education and care settings.

Every ACT child who turns four on or before 30 April can attend 15 hours of free preschool a week at an ACT public school. Enrol online: Enrolling in a Public Preschool.

Specialist preschools

Specialist preschools are available for children with a diagnosis of Global Developmental Delay with significant impact on adaptive functioning, and/or Intellectual Disability. The diagnosis must be made by a medical or health professional such as paediatrician, psychologist or allied health professional.

When a child is eligible for a specialist preschool, parents and caregivers will make the decision about which program the student will attend.

Cranleigh School and Malkara school are the ACT’s two specialist preschools. There is a two-step process for families who want to enrol their child at a specialist preschool:

1. Enrol at their local school using the online enrolment form and
2. Complete the Expression of Interest for Specialist Preschool form.

Enrolling in kindergarten to year 12

All students enrol online using the application form available at: Enrolling in a Public School.

If a child is eligible for a disability program, parents and caregivers can select their preferred disability program. Programs are available from kindergarten to year 12.

For students who already attend an ACT public school, the school’s Disability Education Coordination Officer (DECO) and school psychologist work with parents and caregivers to confirm program eligibility.

If your child or young person has not yet started at an ACT public school but has, or may have, a disability, you as a parent or caregiver will work with the school to determine eligibility for a disability program.

Remember, all students who need adjustments will receive them.

Families new to the ACT, or transferring from a non-government school should email disabilityeducation@act.gov.au to set up a time to discuss whether their child or young person may be eligible for a disability program.

Students with learning difficulties

ACT public schools help students who find reading, spelling, writing and/or mathematics difficult.

Find out more about supports for Students with Learning Difficulties.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

The NDIS supports people with disability including funding for individual supports. The ACT Government provides support for personal care in schools and transport for eligible students with special needs.

For students who have NDIS funding that may include a therapist, such as an occupational therapist or speech pathologist, it is possible to arrange for these appointments to take place at school. Parents and caregivers should talk to their child’s school if they would like this to happen.

Useful NDIS websites:

National Disability Insurance Scheme website

EACH NDIS Partner in the community delivering early childhood approach services in the ACT

Feros Care Partner in the community delivering NDIS services in the ACT

Special Needs Transport is available on the Transport Canberra and City Services website.

ACT Education Directorate contacts

Inclusive Education

For information about disability programs in ACT public schools

Phone: (02) 6205 6925

Email: disabilityeducation@act.gov.au

Feedback and Complaints

Phone: (02) 6205 5429

Online: https://www.education.act.gov.au/about-us/contact_us

Relevant legislation and policies

Australian Government

Disability Standards for Education 2005
Disability Discrimination Act 1992
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability

ACT Government

Students With Disability Meeting Their Educational Needs Policy