Ember and Charli
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.
Charli is the mother of Ember, a pre-teen who is autistic and has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Charli told the Royal Commission that Ember was discriminated against because of her disability.
Last year Ember’s parents started looking at local high schools. Their choice for their daughter was the local Catholic school. They filled in the application forms and felt encouraged by staff in the office who said their daughter had a good chance of getting in.
Charli said that ‘being non-Catholic’, they didn’t expect to be accepted in the first round. But they were surprised to receive ‘a very harshly worded email’ stating they didn’t have a place for Ember.
‘I replied to the email asking what our chances were of receiving a second round offer, and had no reply,’ Charlie said.
About a week later, Charlie saw an advertisement on Facebook saying the school had extended the deadline for applications and were intending to increase their year 7 numbers for 2020.
Charlie emailed the submissions officer again.
‘My phone rang within five minutes of sending the email. The admissions officer advised that they didn’t have a place for my child as they only had a certain number of “extra needs” spots and they all went to Catholic children and that I was still on the list in case any of these spots came up.’
The admissions office confirmed that the school was increasing its numbers for 2020, but ‘there were no additional needs spots, only spots for children without additional needs’.
Charli was appalled.
‘This school is a fee paying school, I was happy to pay thousands of dollars per year for my child to attend and have the support needed … It’s disgraceful that anyone is discriminated against, let alone children!’
Charli said she may have recourse to fight the school on its decision but is asking herself, ‘Do I want my child at a school who behaves like this?’
Charli hopes the Royal Commission’s work will remove barriers to integration for people with disability.
‘It would be phenomenal to have a society where all people are supported to be the best person they can be. No discrimination at all. Build all people up rather than tear them down.’
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.