Ahead of International Day of People with Disability, we recognise the importance of inclusive education
Friday 3 December 2021 is
International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), a day to increase awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability.
There are over 4 million people with disability in Australia, and the day is an opportunity for school communities to promote and celebrate the achievements and contributions of students with disability.
This year’s theme is ‘Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world’.
Disability Inclusion in schools
Ahead of IDPwD, the Department of Education and Training recognised the progress made in Victorian government schools, since the Victorian Government launched
Disability Inclusion earlier this year.
Disability Inclusion is part of the government’s approach to inclusive education. It will help make sure children and young people with disability are welcomed and engaged so they can participate and achieve their full potential at school and in life.
Disability Inclusion is being introduced over five years, from 2021.
So far, schools in the Bayside Peninsula, Barwon, Loddon Campaspe areas, and five supported inclusion schools, have begun their transition to Disability Inclusion.
Schools in Outer Eastern Melbourne, Central Highlands and Mallee are part of the Year 2 rollout from 2022.
Disability Inclusion includes a new Disability Inclusion Profile approach, which helps schools to understand and make adjustments to suit a child’s strengths and needs at school.
Disability Inclusion also provides additional funding for schools, and resources and initiatives to help schools better include students with disability.
For Rick Pedetti, who has been appointed the Inclusion Education Learning Specialist at Sandringham Primary School, catering to all students is important because every child has their own strengths.
‘Inclusive education is important so we can cater to the differences that we see in students,’ Rick said.
Learn about how Disability Inclusion has already improved one student’s life at Sandringham Primary School.
Find out more
For more information about the extra support available for children with disability in government schools through Disability Inclusion, watch
this animation.
For inspirational stories of people with lived experience of disability and to find out how to get involved in IDPwD, visit the
IDPwD website.