Some students with disability have been denied bathroom breaks and forced to sit in their own urine, while others have been forcefully dragged by their teachers, the disability royal commission has heard.
Some teachers are “resisting diversity” in their classrooms and failing to cater for disabled students, the disability royal commission has been told. Special education teachers say despite some students having “complex needs”, there is no reason they cannot attend and thrive in mainstream schools.
The disability royal commission in Townsville has been told while there are amazing teachers many don’t want children with disabilities in their classrooms.
Counsel assisting Kerri Mellifont said some disabled students are subject to violence and bullying so severe they are forced to withdraw from the mainstream school system. “Those submissions and information start to paint the very real and stark picture that in many places persons with disabilities are not receiving equity in their education,” Dr Mellifont said.
A “substantial number” of the largest NDIS providers are being ordered to provide information relating to complaints, investigations and reported incidents of violence and abuse.
BRISBANE barrister Rebecca Treston QC has delivered a shocking snapshot of abuse, neglect and disadvantage suffered by disabled people living in Australia today. “Every 10 minutes someone with profound or severe disability experiences physical or sexual violence,” Ms Treston, told the opening session of a new royal commission.
Disability groups, along with Labor and the Greens, are calling for the removal of commissioners John Ryan and Barbara Bennett due to to conflict-of-interest concerns. Despite growing community pressure, the Morrison government is standing by the appointments. “This will get messy before it has even started,” Mr Fearnley said. “I think it might be time to look out the window and see what the voices of people with disability are saying.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has written to the states and territories asking for their support in establishing a joint inquiry into abuse in the disabled sector.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will order a royal commission into horrific allegations of abuse against people with disability in what will be the sixth judicial probe in Australia in as many years.
Yes, as has often been the case, the Coalition government has had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the point where the proposal finally has bipartisan support. But, as with last year’s banking Royal Commission, the important thing is it got there.
Families of victims of disability abuse have joined Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to demand a royal commission into the abuse of people living with disabilities. The move came on Saturday after a motion calling on the Federal Government to establish a royal commission into abuse in the disability sector was not voted on this week.