A FAMILY is pleading for greater change in the disability support system after a marathon two year battle for funding.
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Tammy Hammond claims she has received four rejection letters for a level three aide for her son Alex, 14, who has Asperger’s.
Since he started year seven at Ballarat Secondary College’s East campus he has been suspended 16 times. Fifteen of those times were in 2014. Ms Hammond believes her son missed at least one year of school because he has not had adequate supervision.
She says he is currently receiving an aide that is funded by the school and not the department. That aide supports him four days a week. The other unsupported day he must spend at home.
“We initially applied for high school funding at the start of grade six. They kept rejecting us or asking us to send in other documents or reports,” Ms Hammond said.
“Education matters …. and my son is entitled to a free education.”
Alex does not meet the criteria required to attend a specialist school.
The government’s new $155.8 million special needs boost aims to close some of those funding gaps currently experienced by Ms Hammond and other families.
$22 million has been specifically allocated to help students with autism and dyslexia. Education minister James Merlino said the package would help students.
“Part of making Victoria the education state is ensuring children, like Alex, get the extra help they need to reach their potential,” Mr Merlino said.
“That’s why as part of the $155 million special needs package, we’re boosting support to kids with autism and dyslexia by $17 million.”
It will increase the number of speech pathologists, reading intervention programs, language screen tool and provide extra teacher training. Peak body for people on the autism spectrum Amaze has welcomed the review but says remains disappointed that only 21 of Amaze’s 25 recommendations were adopted.
Alex Hammond wants funding for an aide so he can attend school full time.
“Delaying the work to design a new funding model to meet the educational needs of some of the most vulnerable students in our classroom,” chief Fiona Sharkie said. “
It is clear that the current funding model is not meeting the educational needs of students on the autism spectrum, today’s review reiterates this, as have many other recent review and reports.”
Ms Hammond hopes funding issues can be resolved so families like hers do not have to go through the added stress of making dozens of extra submissions with applications for funding.