Life long Learning DANA Conference 2012 Elizabeth McGarry CEO, Association for Children with a Disability
EARLY CHILDHOOD (0 – 6 YEARS) All children are entitled to access early childhood services in their local community maternal and child health playgroups child care kindergarten early childhood intervention services
Disability Education Standards 1.5 Applicable to education providers including – pre-schools and kindergartens (not child-care providers)
The Early Years Learning Framework of Australia Belonging, Being and Becoming “All young Australians become successful learners confident and creative individuals active and informed citizens”
Inclusion Support Subsidy may be available to eligible child care services to assist them to build their capacity to include a child or children with ongoing high support needs.
Early Childhood Intervention Services
Early Childhood Intervention Services Interventions to achieve inclusion - Additional support to improve access and participation in child care and kindergarten Assist with moving to school
Kindergarten Inclusion Support Services
Kindergarten Inclusion Support Services support access and participation of children with severe disabilities by providing flexible, individually tailored support in an inclusive 4-year old kindergarten program.
Barriers to Inclusion Government Policy under-funded services eligibility constraints Workforce Insufficient training underpaid / undervalued Community deficit focus = indifferent = intolerant = competitive Family too many knock backs = too hard = give up
Government Policy NDIS ‘Helping Children with Autism’ ‘Better Start’ Initiative
Workforce Insufficient pre-service training. Disability related learning relegated to “elective” status Supporting children with a disability isn’t promoted as a valued career path Low remuneration for “assistants”
Community See the disability first not the child Focussed on ’perfection’ Don’t appreciate/value diversity or how attitudes impact on others Want their own child to get best opportunities – without exception
Family Desire to protect child and self from the judgement of others Unsure of entitlement to access support Too many battles to fight Retreat to where it feels ‘safer’ Isolation for child and family
Fighting for inclusion “I’m so tired of fighting to get a little help for my daughter. I feel like I’m turning into a beggar” parent “I didn’t want my son sitting in the playground all alone while the other kids played around him.” parent of boy with Spinal Muscular Atrophy
What Inclusion looks like “They (other children) all came away with an awareness and tolerance of others who are different to themselves. “ parent of boy with Spinal Muscular Atrophy “He made friends, went to birthday parties and participated in all the activities with the other children” parent of boy with Down Syndrome
Individual Advocacy Tips Know your stuff – share accurate information Understand the desired outcome and why it is important for the child/family Help prioritise concerns – what is and what isn’t negotiable
Individual Advocacy Tips Seek out person who has the power to make decisions Accountability – who undertook to do what, how and when Keep an open mind - alternative solutions may be just as effective
Individual Advocacy Tips Work towards the child/family’s goals. This is their journey not yours.
Contact details Association for Children with a Disability Suite 2, 98 Morang Road HAWTHORN VIC 3122 Phone: or (rural callers) Web