Invitation - Education for students with disability report launch

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22 October 2013

Invitation - Inclusion in education for students with disability Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes AM would like to invite you to a launch at the Australian Human Rights Commission tomorrow, 23 October 2013. Children with Disability Australia (CDA) - a peak national body - is launching a landmark issues paper 'Inclusion in Education: towards equality for students with disability'. This paper draws on over 170 research papers and discuses the considerable body of evidence that demonstrates the benefits of inclusive education for all students. For students with disability, CDA has found that there are entrenched barriers to receiving an inclusive education in Australia. The biggest barriers to inclusion in education relate to discriminatory attitudes. Disability is associated by many with low expectations, and notions of burden and charity, rather than real participation. Stephanie Gotlib, Executive Officer, Children with Disability Australia said: "It is critical that education communities value diversity and quality education becomes a reality in the lives of students with disability," "Inclusive education is about a system that ensures that every student can actively participate in and contribute to all areas of their learning. In 2013 this should not be a revolutionary idea, but should be the norm in education in Australia." The author of the report, Dr Kathy Cologon said: "Discriminatory attitudes and practices pose serious barriers to inclusive education, and yet, despite these challenges, research evidence overwhelmingly supports inclusive education. In addition to the outcomes for social justice and sense of community and belonging, research provides evidence of positive outcomes of inclusive education for social, academic, cognitive and physical development in children who do and do not experience disability." We hope you can make it. EVENT DETAILS DATE: Wednesday 23 October 2013 TIME: 1.00pm PLACE: Australian Human Rights Commission Level 3, 175 Pitt Street, Sydney RSVP to Children with Disability Australia on (03) 9482 1130 or JoanneEllingworth@cda.org.au Official Launch by: Mr. Graeme Innes AM Disability Discrimination Commissioner Guest Speaker: Dr. Kathy Cologon Macquarie University   Media contacts For CDA: Sara Irvine 0402 982 002 sara@sazcom.com.au For Commissioner Graeme Innes: Sarah Bamford (02) 9284 9758 or 0417 957 525 Sarah.bamford@humanrights.gov.au Up to the minute information on human rights is now available on twitter at twitter.com/AusHumanRights.