Changes to SACE certificate wording a victory for students with disabilities:
29/08/2015
Changes to SACE certificate wording a victory for students with disabilities: Kelly Vincent
ABC online 29.8.2015
The South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) board has agreed to remove discriminatory wording from the award certificate presented to students with intellectual disabilities.
Until now the certificate presented to the students stated that they completed a modified curriculum due to intellectual disabilities.
Dignity for Disability MP Kelly Vincent said she had been working to have the words removed since she was approached four years ago by families, who found it to be discriminatory.
“Can you imagine what it would be like as a young person completing high school to get an official document that basically states in big bold letter ‘you’re different’?” Ms Vincent said.
“I think particularly for young people this could result in significant anxiety and issues around identity.”
Ms Vincent said the wording on the certificates could force a recent school leaver to disclose their disability status in situations like job interviews, if they included their certificate in their application.
“We thought this would raise quite concerning opportunities for employers to have an opinion about this perspective employees on the basis of their disabilities,” Ms Vincent said.
She said the SACE board’s decision to remove the wording was a victory for equality in education.
But Ms Vincent said there were still significant barriers for students with disabilities.
“Many students are still denied the support they need to reach their academic and social potential and can face blatant exclusion and abuse in school,” she said.
“That is why Dignity for Disability has set up a committee of the Parliament to look into ways of improving the education system.
“I look forward to using people’s real experience to find workable ways to achieve true equality in education.
“In the meantime, this decision is a step toward that equality and I sincerely thank everyone involved.”
Deadline for submissions to the select committee on Access to the Education System for Students with Disabilities is September 25, 2015.
Link to original article : http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-29/sace-certificate-changes-victory-students-with-disabilities/6734716
