‘Disability reform unit’ on the way after Sabine Winton releases long-awaited WA school disabilities review

No child should be denied enrolment at their local school because of disability, a long-awaited review of WA’s outdated School Education Act has found. The review will be tabled in Parliament on Thursday — nearly one year since it was completed — after repeated calls for its release by disability advocates and The West Australian. WA is the only jurisdiction where the law limits enrolment at a local school based on whether an “appropriate” educational program is available, which means principals can turn away students with disability. The review, chaired by autism expert Andrew Whitehouse, said the Act “should ensure that disability is not a consideration for denial of enrolment in WA schools”. The expert panel noted private schools could also “indirectly discriminate” by requesting information such as NAPLAN scores to inform enrolment decisions. Ageing school infrastructure or lack of accessibility for students with disability was another “significant barrier” to a universal right to enrol. The review also called for a child’s disability to be taken into account when deciding to suspend or exclude students. It said some students were disciplined for behaviour that escalated after their requirements for reasonable adjustments, such as fidget tools, were taken away. It said the Act should provide greater clarity on the use of “restrictive practices” — such as physical restraint or isolation — in schools. And it called for an independent body outside the Education Department to handle complaints and resolve disputes. Education Minister Sabine Winton said the department would set up a dedicated “disability reform unit” to improve access and services across public schools. First steps would include reviewing enrolment regulations to make sure all students were treated fairly. “Every child has the right to a quality education that supports them to learn and grow,” Ms Winton said. “Students with disability and their families rightly expect schools to provide students with opportunities to engage and succeed in their learning, to achieve their full potential. “We will prioritise changes that lead to the most timely and effective outcomes for students with disability and their families.”