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Disability and Education
You can also access more information about inclusion and disability in education at these pages:
'Education, Autism, Inclusion and Your Rights' here
'Inclusive Classrooms' here
Student Support Group (SSG)
A Student Support Group (SSG- or similar variations) is a group comprised of parents/carers of a child with a disability and relevant staff at the school (eg. wellbeing staff, classroom teacher, principal, the student where appropriate etc). The SSG meets regularly- from once a term to more frequently, depending on each child's needs.
The SSG is designed to ensure your child has a positive and meaningful learning experience with access to the right supports for them.
One of the purposes of a SSG is to develop an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) for your child (see below).
It is strongly recommended that every student with a disability has an SSG (or equivalent) formed within their school.
If your child does not have an SSG, you can ask your school to provide one.
For further information and guidelines, visit the Department of Education and Training (DET) website here.
Student Support Group Guidelines are available here.
Individual Learning Plans (ILP)
An Individual Learning Plan (ILP) is designed to establish relevant learning goals for your child as relevant to their specific needs. An ILP should document your child's needs and the strategies and supports required to support your child in meeting them. An ILP should be reviewed and updated regularly and as required, after any assessments and will change as your child's needs change.
Any student receiving school disability funding must have an ILP and they are strongly recommended and are beneficial for any student with a disability.
Some of the things an ILP may include can be:
If your child does not have an ILP, you can request one.
More information about ILP's can be found on the DET website here.
An Individual Learning Plan (ILP) is designed to establish relevant learning goals for your child as relevant to their specific needs. An ILP should document your child's needs and the strategies and supports required to support your child in meeting them. An ILP should be reviewed and updated regularly and as required, after any assessments and will change as your child's needs change.
Any student receiving school disability funding must have an ILP and they are strongly recommended and are beneficial for any student with a disability.
Some of the things an ILP may include can be:
- adjustments to the curriculum or classroom
- supportive equipment
- any training required for school/teaching staff
- support staff and their role
- referrals to DET specialist staff, such as speech therapists or psychologist (some more information below)
If your child does not have an ILP, you can request one.
More information about ILP's can be found on the DET website here.
Other DET Education Supports to consider
Student Support Services
Student Support Services assist children and young people faced with learning barriers to achieve their educational and developmental potential. They provide strategies and specialised support at individual, group, school and network levels.
More information can be found of the DET website and here.
Abilities Based Learning and Education Support (ABLES) Assessments
From the DET website- "The Abilities Based Learning and Education Support (ABLES) program supports the teaching and learning of students with disabilities and additional needs. It provides a suite of curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and reporting resources that assist teachers in recognising and responding to the diverse learning needs of all students, and in assessing and reporting student learning, monitoring student progress and providing accurate intervention advice."
Further information about ABLES assessments can be found here.
Flexible Education Options
There are flexible education options that can be considered for students struggling significantly in mainstream schools, to further support students in remaining engaged in school or in supporting them with alternative options to usual school environment and routine.
Visit our Education- Flexible page here for more information.
Student Support Services
Student Support Services assist children and young people faced with learning barriers to achieve their educational and developmental potential. They provide strategies and specialised support at individual, group, school and network levels.
More information can be found of the DET website and here.
Abilities Based Learning and Education Support (ABLES) Assessments
From the DET website- "The Abilities Based Learning and Education Support (ABLES) program supports the teaching and learning of students with disabilities and additional needs. It provides a suite of curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and reporting resources that assist teachers in recognising and responding to the diverse learning needs of all students, and in assessing and reporting student learning, monitoring student progress and providing accurate intervention advice."
Further information about ABLES assessments can be found here.
Flexible Education Options
There are flexible education options that can be considered for students struggling significantly in mainstream schools, to further support students in remaining engaged in school or in supporting them with alternative options to usual school environment and routine.
Visit our Education- Flexible page here for more information.
Disability Support Funding in schools
All education providers must comply with the requirements of the Commonwealth Disability Standards for Education and other anti-discrimination laws as outlined here.
- Mainstream schools
Kindergarten Inclusion Support Packages (KIS)
The KIS funding is available to preschools based on eligibility of students. Students can be eligible if they have a disability, high support needs or complex medical needs.
More information on KIS funding can be found here.
Program for Students with Disabilities funding (PSD)
The PSD funding is available to students with "moderate to high needs" and is provided directly to the school to facilitate provision of further resources to support students.
This funding is accessible by stringent criteria through application by the school.
Further information on PSD funding can be found here.
Home Based Education Support
The Home Based Education Support option is provided under the Department of Education and Training Victoria, as a program delivered in-home for students unable to attend school, with the aim to gradually transition the student back into school. There is a specific eligibility criteria and as per the DET Home Based Education Support page "The Home-Based Educational Support Program supports schools to provide students with severe disabilities and comorbid fragile health with an educational program when they are unable to attend their enrolled school, due to the nature and impact of their disability and health needs."
More information on this option can be found here.
- Independent Schools
Independent schools operate under a different funding system to mainstream schools.
Students With Disabilities Funding (SWD)
The most recent SWD Handbook (2014) is available here. See also link below under Catholic Education information.
- Catholic Education
Catholic Education Victoria also operates under the Students With Disabilities Funding (SWD)
Students With Disabilities Funding (SWD)
Association for Children with a Disability have an excellent informative page regarding Catholic Education SWD here.
Classroom supports and tips
There are many supports to consider that can assist in ensuring school is a positive environment and experience for autistic students.
We are building a list here of resources and links that can ne useful in considering how to support and advocate for and with your child within educational settings.
Some examples of supports that can be useful - and always depends on each child's needs- are:
There are many supports to consider that can assist in ensuring school is a positive environment and experience for autistic students.
We are building a list here of resources and links that can ne useful in considering how to support and advocate for and with your child within educational settings.
Some examples of supports that can be useful - and always depends on each child's needs- are:
- BAASS can work with students, their families/carers and schools in developing a Learning Profile- an outline of your child's interests, needs and ways to support those
- Access to fidgets- we are working on resources to provide for parents' carers and schools in relation to purpose, use and introduction of fidgets in classrooms. We will also provide links below that may be helpful for anyone interested in or needing more information around fidgets. Some BAASS resources about Fidgets can be found here.
- Visual timetable
- Pocket visual prompts- can be useful for children in times of overwhelm or significant anxiety
- Access to frequent breaks
- Access to alternatives for handwriting
- Transition support
- Visual guides/itineraries
You can also access more information about inclusion and disability in education at these pages
'Education, Autism, Inclusion and Your Rights' here
'Education, Autism, Inclusion and Your Rights' here
Barriers to learning for autistic people and how you can help. Infographics by Michelle Sutton. Read it here.
How to support and autistic child in the classroom- Michelle Sutton. Read it here.
Tips for teachers- supporting neurodivergent students- Michelle Sutton. Read it here.