Australia’s failure to ensure that education in mainstream education systems is fully and equitably available to students with disability undermines the potential for people with disability to make their full contribution to the economic, cultural, social and political life of Australian society. Poorly trained teachers, inadequate funding of disability supports and a lack of moral commitment to inclusive education and a failure of leadership by state education administrations all contributes to significant systemic failure in this area. Failure to provide an effective and inclusive education system sustains a continued demand for segregated special schools that limit potential for inclusion in the other areas of life in both childhood and later adulthood.
This report calls for a major effort by all Australian governments to provide strong leadership and resourcing for reform in relation to good practice in inclusive education.
