'Systemic educational neglect and its devastating consequences were laid bare recently at the disability royal commission, which is examining violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability,' writes Kate de Bruin senior lecturer in Inclusive Education at Monash University.

The specialist researcher in inclusive education in policy, systems, and schools says the hearings have shown that many children with disabilities are not getting the support they need or are promised under the law, and that parents have had to battle to get help for their children.

'At Public Hearing 7, focused on “barriers to accessing a safe, quality and inclusive school education and life course impacts”, the commission received submissions and heard raw and compelling oral testimony from young people and their families who described experiences of exclusion, violence and neglect.

'Collectively, their testimony painted a sobering picture of how the education system continues to fail many people with disability.'

'Direct-experience witnesses described the restrictions that schools place on the attendance and learning of students with disability, despite these being inconsistent with Australia’s Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and Disability Standards for Education 2005, and resulting clear educational neglect.'

Meanwhile the Royal Commission released it's report on the public hearing ‘Inclusive Education in Queensland – Preliminary Inquiry’ held from 4-7 November 2019. Key concerns identified in the report include:

• discouragement of families seeking to enrol students with disability in mainstream schools of their choice.
• a lack supports and adjustments for students with disability; and
• low expectations of students with disability leading to poor educational outcomes.

The Royal Commission heard evidence about the bullying and belittling of students with a disability; complicated and inconsistent processes for seeking adjustments, inappropriate exclusions including as suspensions; and use of restrictive practices, including physical restraints and confinement.

The hearing was the Royal Commission’s first opportunity to examine the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), including the obligation to ensure an inclusive education system.