Australian Education Ministers will consider Education Standards for students with disability under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 in Perth on 10/11 July 2003. Disability discrimination in education is unlawful and the Education Standards clarify the legal obligations of education providers. Ms Sue Egan, Convenor of the DDASP, representing Australians with disabilities, said: “We are committed to the elimination of disability discrimination in education. The Standards provide clarification of the obligations of education providers to ensure students with disability are treated on the same basis as other students. This is critical to the development and inclusion of people with disability in the Australian community. All legal and financial concerns have now been resolved. What remains is for Education Ministers to act deliberately to ensure the Education Standards become law without delay.” All representatives of education providers have now indicated their agreement with the Education Standards after seven and half years of discussion and development. An independent cost-benefit analysis of the Education Standards has concluded that: “the overall benefits of the Standards exceed their associated costs.” Previous concerns about a blow out in costs by some States have not been supported. What remains now is a commitment from all Education Ministers at their meeting in Perth to support the progress of the Education Standards to become Commonwealth law. Source Media Inquiries: Graham Smith - 0429 807 470; Sandi Seymour - 0439 774 644; Paul Cain - 0419 462 928. ###