Today is international disability day. It is a day that reminds me that life is unfair. I am a parent, I have a disability, my children are autistic and ADHD. Today my child’s school told me that as a carer, I can not attend my child’s graduation ceremony because they are at venue capacity.
Let me just say that once more, for the back row. I can not attend to support my child because too many able and neurotypical people had booked tickets before me. Let that sink in for a while.
How this happened.
So how did this come about and was I as a parent to blame? My child who is a bright, funny and autistic managed to successfully pass unscored VCE. I am so proud. It wasn’t easy. We had the amazing support of a teacher who guided my child. She made sure time lines and goals were met. She was relentless and advocated for my child. Ensuring teachers understood my child’s accessibility needs. She reminded him of deadlines and tasks that were due. She was our champion and saw my child as a student who could succeed and shine if the right supports were in play.
So, coming back to graduation. Correspondence was sent to all students regarding the upcoming events and parents were not sent information. You can now appreciate that the email was never going to be actioned by my child. Their school advocate was no longer by their side. They no longer had someone looking out for them. I suppose by now you are saying that is my job, right? It is. Having no idea that information was released, I assumed it would be a gathering at the school followed by presentations, as like every other school event. I assumed wrong. I missed the deadline, my child missed out. They missed out because the school assumed that my child’s needs were the same as every other student. They did not consider his disability. In fact they forgot about his disability.
My child had been part of this college campus for 2 years. During that time, we kept all of his teachers and support staff updated on my child’s accessibility needs. So why, on this occasion was his needs not considered? Needs that we had constantly explained and were no secret.
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Oh the Irony.
The irony is that today is International Day of Persons with a Disability. A day where we celebrate difference and make everyone aware that inclusion and accessibility is a fundamental right. It is not an option or a “favour” It is the law. It is not only about accommodating physical disability; Accommodating all disability.
The indifference really gets me. The attitude that if everyone else could organise themselves. If everyone else can get their details in on time then it is our fault. The ableist attitude that it is too difficult to add my child to the celebrations. My child does not outwardly look disabled; therefore, we must be somehow manipulating them for our own gain and benefit.
This is fundamentally what inclusion and disability support is. It is ensuring that everyone has access to supports that allows them to be on par with, and achieve the same goals and outcomes as others around them.le
It is far too easy to think of disability supports as physical. A ramp, substitles, or signers for the deaf. However it is far more. It is making sure that everyone can access information and support when needed. It is thinking about needs. When accessibility is asked for, it is saying yes without hesitation.
I urge everyone to think about disability. To open your minds and think beyond physical. Disability is far more. It is International Day of Disability and this is what I want you to know today and everyday.
Written anonymously by a parent.
