Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) has been gathering feedback on educational experiences from its members via formal surveys since 2010. These surveys have consistently found that students with disability are excluded in their education. For the first time this survey sought to specifically focus on the voices and perspectives of young people in education.

Prior surveys have elicited some responses from this group but have tended to be primarily completed by families and caregivers. The survey was also provided with Auslan interpretation and captioned videos. Survey questions were about the types of services and supports accessed, how welcoming and supportive schools are, whether students experience exclusion and bullying and how well-equipped teachers and schools are perceived to be in meeting the needs of children and young people with disability.

Findings:

The results suggest that a significant proportion of students with disability do not feel included in all activities within their schools. 70% of respondents indicated that they felt excluded from events and activities within their schooling. Some of this exclusion was experienced around activities such as camps and excursions, but others reported this within everyday teaching activities or social interactions within schooling.

When asked what might improve school experiences, a large majority suggested that school staff would benefit from greater training. Many felt that teachers do not have the right sort of training and skills to be able to interact with and make accommodations for students with disability.