When will there be some justice for children with disabilities?
18/10/2012
Dignity for Disability MLC Kelly Vincent has today called on Minister Portolesi to conduct a review of bus services for students with disabilities following a shocking situation in Ballarat highlighted today.
“Today’s story exposing the case of twelve year old girl with a disability being tied to the seat with shoe laces by her driver is another example of deeply concerning occurrences on school buses,” said Ms Vincent.
“Given this shocking example, I call on Minister Portolesi to urgently release the results of the review of South Australia’s GPS and CCTV trial on DECD buses.
“Whilst I am aware that we now have GPS and CCTV footage on the six Departmental buses, we are yet to have that on all third party contracted buses and I am very concerned for the welfare of the children that travel to and from school on these buses.
“Victoria has much stronger protections and a reputation for better services for people with disabilities – the fact that this has still occurred there is a worrying sign of what might be going on in South Australia.
“This sort of inappropriate restraint could be occurring here, but due to the nature of the disabilities some children have, they may not be able to communicate that it’s taking place.
“This situation also brings back into the light the horrific case in Adelaide’s southern suburbs of where a school bus driver that allegedly sexually abused seven children had charges dropped due to deficiencies in our evidence laws.
“Too many children with disabilities are being damaged or traumatised travelling to and from their place of education and it’s a complete violation of human rights. We cannot stand by and allow this to continue,” concluded Ms Vincent.
