APC Media Release: Parents welcome disabilities funding
MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: 3 May 2011
SUBJECT: Parents welcome disability funding increase
CONTACT: Ian Dalton, Executive Director PHONE: 0411 255 418
The Australian Parents Council has welcomed the Australian Government's announcement of an additional $200 million to go towards meeting some of the needs of students with disabilities.
"This announcement is a positive step in the continuing endeavour to achieve better resourcing for the schooling of students with disabilities, whose needs have been overlooked for far too long," said the executive director of the Australian Parents Council, Mr Ian Dalton.
"Today's announcement by the Prime Minister and Minister for School Education outlines some of the needs of these students that the Government is seeking to address, such as access to new services and special equipment, additional in-class support and adapted curriculum.
"The additional $200 million equates to just over $1,200 per student when averaged across the 164,000 students with disabilities currently attending Australian schools. This highlights how far behind the eight ball we are in this country, as a lot more than that will be needed to achieve an appropriate level of resourcing in those areas for these kids.
"This additional funding is another significant step along the path to a better deal for students with disabilities, and we are really pleased that students with disabilities are obviously on the Gillard Government's radar.
"We are hopeful that the attention being given to this issue by the current Review of Funding for Schooling will result in the gap between the needs of students with disabilities and the resourcing of those needs being closed even further," he said,
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