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 In
2001, the Vinson Report funded by the NSW Teachers
Federation and the P&C Association, with the
support of the NSW Government, covered many aspects
of public education. It reported in 2002 and with
regards to disabilities, it concluded:
'Many
teachers struggle to give students with
disabilities enough opportunities in the
classroom. In recent years the Government has
acknowledged these difficulties and given
additional help, but the challenge is so
demanding that even more help is needed.
Teachers
need extra training and professional
development, with the help of consultant special
education teachers so they can learn how to
integrate students with disabilities into
whole-class teaching. At the same time, they
need more support staff to work one-on-one with
the students who have disabilities.
The recommendations
were
- Give teachers
professional development so they can learn about
teaching students with disabilities as part of
the whole class. Consultant teachers could help
and also co-teach lessons.
- Allow teachers more time
outside the classroom to plan their
classes.
- Create 100 more Student
Teacher Learning Difficulties positions in NSW.
These are teachers who work one-on-one with
students having difficulties.'
Importantly, Professor Vinson
strongly advocated the move of disabled children
into normal schools, as it enriches the lives of
both disabled and able-bodied students.
Since the Vinson report,
there has been more funding allocated to meeting
the recommendations, but there remains considerable
unmet need and inconsistency in approach.
It is vital that the
integration of more disabled children be adequately
resourced, with considerable funds from the
Department of Education and Training, to allow
teachers to cope with the added
responsibilities.
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Further Reading
To read more about this
report see the  New
South Wales Public Education
Inquiry
website.
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The
Physical Disability Council of NSW Inc (PDCN) is
the peak body representing people with physical
disabilities across New South Wales.
PDCN is involved in information, education and
systemic advocacy for, and on behalf of, people
with a physical disability.
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