Alex and Joe
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Joe is a retired primary school principal. His granddaughter, Alex, has autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Joe told the Royal Commission that Alex’s school discouraged the enrolment of children with disability to protect its reputation.
‘The drive for school reputation, and the high stakes NAPLAN testing results that are published, incentivises schools to discourage certain disability groups which may detract from their scores or public image.’
Joe said he was astonished that at Alex’s large primary school only three children, including Alex, identified as having disabilities. They had little support.
When a new principal arrived, the number jumped to 19 and the principal appointed a special needs teacher.
‘The delay in giving my granddaughter support has created some severe psychological problems that could have been avoided if the school was willing to be inclusive.’
Joe said he knew of one school with more than 1000 children, but none identified with ASD.
‘Other schools try to avoid taking intellectually impaired or ASD children by being designated as physically impaired or hearing impaired centres only.’
Joe said that when he was a school principal, a decade ago, some schools discouraged children with disability by not catering for them.
‘The parents would find their children unsupported, suspended or threatened with expulsion. Their recourse was to move to another school.’
He said it appeared things hadn’t changed.
‘I squarely blame the NAPLAN agenda and the need to drive school numbers based on reputation.’
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.