Elliot and Vivianne
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.
Vivianne is the mother of Elliot, a 10 year-old boy with Down syndrome. She told the Royal Commission her son has experienced educational neglect.
Elliot was a student at a public school in his younger years, but Vivianne and her husband ended up removing him. ‘We felt that the school was not meeting its legal requirements to provide Elliot with an education.’
Elliot found it difficult to describe his days at school, but he did make comments about ‘not doing anything’ and ‘being bored’.
Vivianne said the school failed to adapt the curriculum for Elliot, and to provide appropriate materials for him in the classroom.
‘Elliot … is not able to ask for things to be done differently or to be included or to have pedagogical practices so that he could learn. His intellectual disability impairs his capacity to talk of neglect and to ask for anything different.'
Vivianne and her husband spoke with the school ‘at length’ about these issues, but ‘nothing changed’.
‘No appropriate stationery or books were issued to Elliot … These rudimentary adjustments were not given to him. Let alone any differentiation to the curriculum in the classroom,’ she said.
Vivianne and her husband took their complaints to government agencies and legal firms.
‘[We] laid out in detail the many ways in which the people who were his case managers … failed in their duty of care to deliver basic pedagogical resources, educational resources so that Elliot could participate in the classroom and receive an education appropriate to his needs.’
The responses received were far from satisfactory.
‘The school principal responded with broad strokes, but did not address any of the complaints we had made in the letter … Rather than stepping up to improve the education … there was even less communication with us and no change in their educational practices.’
Despite the upheaval, Elliot’s parents made the ‘massive decision’ to remove him from the school. They are committed to giving Elliot opportunities to develop friendships and interests, pursue talents and gain competence and confidence through regular pathways. They felt the school was impeding these opportunities.
‘Inclusive education for children with disability, including children with intellectual impairment, is a fundamental human right, leading to better educational, vocational and life chances for that child,’ Vivianne said.
‘Teachers and schools need funding, training and education and passion so that they can deliver a quality education to people with disability. State governments and school principals needs to be held accountable for their legal obligations.’
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.