Review of criteria for DETA Disability Categories of HI, PI and VI

Introduction

education adjustment program Department of Education, Training and the Arts

History

• Ascertainment (finished Dec 2004) – Two tiered system (Levels 2-3, Levels 4-5-6) – External and internal processes – Additional funding for Levels 4-5-6 • Verification (started Jan 2005) – Two tiered system EAP eligible / ineligible – Eligibility for additional funding based on EAP data of ‘eligible’ students • Verification - 2006 – All verification through centralised process – Quality assurance and consistency – All students verified are eligible for profile

education adjustment program Department of Education, Training and the Arts

Definition of Disability: Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cwth) Disability, in relation to a person, means: (a) total or partial loss of the person’s bodily or mental functions ; or (b) total or partial loss of a part of the body ; or (c) the presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness; or (d) the presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness; or (e) the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement body; or (f) a disorder or malfunction of a part of the person’s that results in the person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction; or (g) a disorder, illness or disease that affects a person’s thought processes , or that results in disturbed perception of reality , emotions or judgment behaviour; and includes a disability that: (h) presently exists; or (i) previously existed but no longer exists; or (j) may exist in the future; or is imputed to a person.

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education adjustment program Department of Education, Training and the Arts

• Disability Discrimination Act (1992) and • Disability Standards for Education (2005):

all education authorities are obliged to provide the services and facilities necessary to ensure that students with disabilities can participate in education and training without discrimination

. • ‘Reasonable adjustments’

education adjustment program Department of Education, Training and the Arts

DETA schools provide reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities through a range of processes and provisions. These include:  Learning support  Behaviour support  Guidance support  Therapist support  Programs and services

education adjustment program Department of Education, Training and the Arts

DETA Disability categories

• Intellectual Impairment • Autistic Spectrum Disorder • Speech Language Impairment • Physical Impairment • Hearing Impairment • Vision Impairment

education adjustment program Department of Education, Training and the Arts

Disability: ICF Model

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education adjustment program Department of Education, Training and the Arts

Definition of Disability: WHO, 2001

International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health

 Impairments are problems in body function or structure such as a significant deviation from the population norm or loss.  Activity limitations executing activities are difficulties an individual may have in  Participation restrictions are problems an individual may experience in involvement in life situations 8

education adjustment program Department of Education, Training and the Arts Impairment + Activity limitation/participation restriction = Disability

education adjustment program Department of Education, Training and the Arts

DETA definition of disability

• The impairment (medical condition or other impairment in structure or function) is diagnosed by either an authorised specialist external to the Department of Education Training and the Arts, or an authorised specialist internal to DETA such as a speech language pathologist or guidance officer.

• In a school, curriculum access is the key ‘ activity limitation and participation restriction ’ . Consequently, both teachers and specialist teachers should be involved in determining how the impairment affects delivery of the student’s educational program .

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education adjustment program Department of Education, Training and the Arts

International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO, 2001)

• Body functions • Sensory functions and pain e.g. Hearing and vestibular functions (b230 – b249) • Body structures • Chapter 2 Structures of the eye, ear and related structures E.g. Structure of middle ear (s250), Structure of the inner ear (s260) • Activities and participation • Environmental factors 11

education adjustment program Department of Education, Training and the Arts

ICF Activity Limitation and Participation Restriction Domains:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Learning and applying knowledge General tasks and demands Communication Mobility Self care Domestic life Interpersonal interactions and relationships Major life areas Community, social and civic life 12

education adjustment program Department of Education, Training and the Arts Activities and Participation: ICF Example

Learning and applying knowledge

• Purposeful sensory experiences (d110 - d129) Watching Listening Other purposeful sensing • Basic learning (d130 - d159) Copying Learning to calculate Rehearsing Learning to write Learning to read Acquiring skills • Applying knowledge (d160 – d179) Focusing attention Solving problems Thinking Making decisions Reading Applying knowledge Writing Learning and applying knowledge Calculating 13

education adjustment program Department of Education, Training and the Arts

Purpose of Review of DETA diagnostic criteria

To review existing criteria in terms of:

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current best practice in education

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current definitions of disability

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procedural consistency

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conceptual clarity

education adjustment program Department of Education, Training and the Arts

Review Process

• Reference group • Working parties • Timelines • Reports and recommendations • Approval • Implementation