BALLARAT Specialist School will open its doors to the public in May as a way of showcasing the facility and its programs.
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May Day will give the public as well as other people in the special needs community the opportunity to see how the school works.
Principal John Burt said the school had about 440 students, with the open day trying to help people understand the work being done by staff and students at the school.
“The opportunity is to basically let Ballarat know what we are doing as a school for people with so-called special needs,” he said.
“The word disability for us is a dirty word. We focus on the ability, what are our kids able to do and then we provide the resources and the environment.”
Mr Burt said the open day was important and highlighted in particular the farm campus, cafe and bakery, which all provide hands-on experience.
“Our farm environment now provides real vocational opportunities,” he said.
“What we are gradually doing is that we are educating the general public about what we are on about but we are also, in my belief, de-emphasising this disability concept that everyone can offer something to our community.”
