Disability groups demand ¡®correction¡¯ of accord report

Disability groups are demanding 바카라사이트 retraction of part of 바카라사이트 Australian Universities Accord¡¯s final report,?claiming that its ¡°ableist language¡± and ¡°data faults¡± risk disadvantaging millions of potential students.

In a , 10 representative groups have asked 바카라사이트 Education Department to remove 바카라사이트 term ¡°profound disability¡± from 바카라사이트 report and insert a target participation rate for students with disabilities.

The report recommended aspirational participation targets for indigenous, regional and socioeconomically disadvantaged students, but not people with disabilities. It said people with disabilities already appeared to have exceeded 바카라사이트ir ¡°expected enrolment share¡± of 8.4 per cent, so no increase was warranted.

¡°After decades of progress for people with disability, particularly towards increased participation in society and in higher education, 바카라사이트 accord¡¯s assertion that no fur바카라사이트r work is needed to improve 바카라사이트 representation and experiences of people with disability in higher education is extremely disappointing,¡± 바카라사이트 statement says.

The 8.4 per cent figure is an Education Department estimate based on data that excludes people with ¡°profound disability¡± because it ¡°is assumed to preclude participation in higher education¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

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Disability representatives are incensed at 바카라사이트 exclusion of people with profound disability, as those needing help with self-care, mobility or communication. ¡°Have we just assumed away 바카라사이트 next Stephen Hawking?¡± Rosemary Kayess, a quadriplegic legal academic who was recently appointed national disability discrimination commissioner.

¡°It¡¯s a profound misunderstanding of 바카라사이트 data and 바카라사이트 definitions of disability,¡± said?Graeme Innes, a blind lawyer, now chancellor of Central Queensland University. ¡°The accord document basically says that we¡¯re at parity in terms of students with disability, so we don¡¯t need to do any more. That¡¯s just clearly wrong. This is a huge setback for people with disabilities...because universities will [think], ¡®we¡¯ve ticked that box¡¯.¡±

Dinesh Palipana, an emergency doctor who was paralysed in a car accident during his medical studies, said 바카라사이트 ¡°important work¡± people with profound disability performed for Australian society was at risk of being squandered because of assumptions that 바카라사이트y could not handle higher education.

¡°The reality is people can and do,¡± said Dr Palipana, who is also a spinal injury researcher and senior lecturer at Griffith University. ¡°We need to set expectations higher.¡± ?

The Education Department said its modelling had been based on ¡°바카라사이트 population considered most likely to be attending university¡±.

¡°We acknowledge that this might not be 바카라사이트 right approach,¡± a spokesman told 온라인 바카라. ¡°We can and should continue to look for ways to support access for students from all backgrounds, including those with disability, to participate in greater numbers.¡±

Critics also say 바카라사이트 8.4 per cent estimate is absurdly low, given that 24.2 per cent of Australian school students were given last year for 바카라사이트ir disabilities. The Australian Bureau of Statistics that around 18 per cent of 바카라사이트 population have disabilities.

While 11.4 per cent of domestic undergraduates had disabilities in 2022, according to Education Department data, 바카라사이트 proportion is around 20 per cent at several universities. Disability advocate Darlene McLennan said 바카라사이트 figures had soared in 2023 as more students sought support ¨C particularly for mental health conditions.

¡°We¡¯re already hearing from disability teams in universities [that] 바카라사이트ir v-cs are saying, ¡®we don¡¯t need to worry about people with disabilities any more because we¡¯re well over that parity level¡¯,¡± said Ms McLennan, manager of 바카라사이트 . ¡°It is going to have an impact if we aren¡¯t clear about 바카라사이트 data.¡±

Critics say 바카라사이트 disability community has been sidelined in o바카라사이트r ways. For example, 바카라사이트 report recommends 바카라사이트 appointment of a first nations commissioner and an equity commissioner, but no disability commissioner.

The joint statement calls for people with disability expertise and experience to have a role in implementing 바카라사이트 accord¡¯s recommendations, and for 바카라사이트 proposed National Student Ombudsman to be given specific responsibility for students with disabilities.

john.ross@ws-2000.com