Jennie O'Neill

Supporting our students with disability

Welcome to a new school year.  In my role as Special Education Program (SEP) Teacher, I work closely with our SEP Teacher Aide SueChe Dorante and class and specialist teachers to support our students with disability.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) and the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (DSE) require schools to make reasonable adjustments to assist a student with disability to participate in learning and to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding

All students covered under the DDA, are supported through a range of provisions in schools. At New Farm, this includes guidance support, speech-language therapy support, behaviour support and learning support.

Some students with disability who have significant educational support needs are eligible for additional targeted resourcing if they are identified as meeting criteria for one of the six education adjustment program (EAP) disability categories: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Intellectual Disability, Physical Impairment, Speech-Language Impairment and Vision Impairment.

The SEP teacher role in the school supports these students by assisting their teachers to make reasonable adjustments for their students to access the curriculum. The role also includes observing and monitoring students to identify their learning needs, developing and implementing targeted programs, providing additional resourcing, and facilitating student transition into high school.

I look forward to another year of working with our school community to support the successful learning of our students with disabilities.