The writing is on the wall for discriminatory wording in SACE
28/08/2015
August 28, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dignity for Disability MLC Kelly Vincent – Media release
Dignity for Disability welcomes the decision from the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) Board to remove the words “this student has completed a modified curriculum due to intellectual disability” on future SACE certificates. Dignity for Disability MLC Kelly Vincent says this is a victory for equality in education.
“Dignity for Disability is thrilled to see common sense prevail,” says Kelly Vincent.
“We were contacted by families concerned by this and we took action. Despite the fact that it is illegal to discriminate on the grounds of disability, this wording on SACE certificates could essentially force people to disclose their disability status in situations like job interviews, if a recent school leaver included their certificate in a job application, for example.
Ms Vincent said there are also social implications.
“I ask people to think about how they might feel if they were given an official document which basically said in big bold letters: ‘you’re different.’ This can be very hurtful and create anxiety around identity; particularly for younger people.
“Today, students complete SACE using a variety of different options, and can modify their curriculum to suit them – maybe learning a foreign language or a trade. We all take different paths, so why pretend that people with disabilities are some kind of exception?
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.
“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,” said Ms Vincent.
Deadline for submissions to The Select Committee on Access to the Education System for Students with Disabilities is Friday September 25 2015. For more information on the committee, contact committee secretary Ms Leslie Guy on: [email protected] or (08) 8237 9490.
