Special Education - Students with Special Learning Needs

Introduction:

The Northern Territory Department of Education and Training's (NTDET) 'Student's with Disabilities Policy - Provision for Students with Disabilities in Northern Territory Schools' supports the inclusion of students with disabilities in regular classes and schools.  It is based on the principle that these students, to the fullest extent possible, should be educated with their age peers and be provided with curriculum and support that will enable their specific educational needs to be met.

The rights of people with disabilities are clearly grounded in legislation:

• The Disability Standards for Education - 2005, Department of Education, Science and Training
• Disability Discrimination Act - Commonwealth Government, 1992
• Anti-Discrimination Act  - Department of Justice - Northern Territory, 2009
• The Disability Services Act - Northern Territory Government, 1993

This legislation has been enacted to protect students with disabilities and in terms of education resolves that:

• A student cannot be refused enrolment because of a disability;
• A student cannot be expelled or excluded because of a disability;
• A student with a disability must be protected from harassment;
• A school make make reasonable adjustments to enable enrolment of a student with a disability.

Funding Assistance Sources:

There are three sources of funding assistance available to schools for the support of students with disabilities.

These are:

• Commonwealth Targeted Programs (LNSLN) - Literacy, Numeracy and Special Learning Needs Programs - Special Education - Fixed Grant
• Commonwealth Targeted Programs (LNSLN) - Literacy, Numeracy and Special Learning Needs Programs - Special Education - Per Capita Grant
• Northern Territory Assistance Scheme - Severely Disabled Children's Program.

More information about these funding assistance sources can be found in the AISNT Special Education - Students with Disabilities - Funding Information Handbook.

Applying for Funding Assistance:

To apply for funding assistance, a 'Special Education School Support Individual Student Profile Form', must be completed and with relevant documentation attached, forwarded to AISNT for ascertainment.

• Special Education School Support Individual Student Profile Form
• Special Needs Profiling Instrument (SNPI)