Disability Inclusion Funding and Support

Resources

Please refer to the department’s collated list of links and resources to support disability inclusion (DOCX).

General information about Disability Inclusion

• Disability Inclusion reform principal checklist (PPTX)
• Disability Inclusion – Policy and Advisory Library Guide (DOCX)
• Disability Inclusion – Vision for Inclusive Education (PPTX)
• Key dates – Tier 3 student level funding (PDF)

Resources to support Tier 2 school-level funding implementation

• Example outline of portfolio responsibilities for a Disability Inclusion Leader/Disability Inclusion Coordinator (DOCX)
• Instructions for reporting of Tier 2 expenditure (DOCX)

Resources to support schools to target students for Tier 2 support

• The Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO) Setting Expectations and Promoting Inclusion Implementation Guide (PDF) describes the professional practices of effective implementation within the FISO improvement cycle. This includes identifying the education challenges where efforts will be prioritised, planning for how the prioritised challenges will be addressed, identifying and celebrating what is working, and adapting when barriers are encountered or changes occur.
• The FISO Strategic Enablers for Implementation Guide (PDF) aims to support schools to reflect on and strengthen four common enablers: self-evaluation capability throughout a school; real-time data monitoring implementation; leadership capability for school improvement; and robust implementation structures

Resources to support schools to build capacity and capability

• Abilities Based Learning and Education Support (ABLES) is an assessment and reporting tool. ABLES Professional Learning helps school staff understand how to use ABLES to assess students, create reports and track progress. There are 5 modules, each focusing on a specific element of the ABLES suite of resources and each requiring approximately one hour of online participation per module.
• Inclusive Classrooms Professional Learning Program – a suite of evidence-based professional development that includes: Human rights approach to diversity and inclusion, individual education planning professional learning, supporting students with autism, supporting students with learning difficulties including dyslexia, supporting students with learning difficulties including dyscalculia, supporting students with hearing loss, supporting students with oral language and learning, supporting students with vision impairment and supporting student behaviour.
• Inclusive Foundations for Children with Disability – Primary School and Inclusive Foundations for Children with Disability – Secondary School – these AllPlay Learn Online Professional Learning Course provides practical strength and evidence based strategies and resources to help primary and secondary school teachers and schools create inclusive education environments for children with developmental challenges and disabilities. The course takes 4 to 6 hours to complete.
• Education Support Staff Working in Classroom Support Roles policy and guidelines – supports principals and school leaders to make decisions about the effective use of education support staff in the classroom.

Resources to support schools plan for adjustments

• Individual education plans (IEPs) outlines IEP requirements and assists schools to identify when a plan is required to support a student with their education.
• Individual education planning summary guide (PDF) provides a summary of available resources to support teachers and school leaders to develop meaningful IEPs, monitor, record and drive student progress and support students who may have multiple plans.
• Student support groups (SSG) provides guidance to schools on supporting students with disabilities and diverse learning needs through SSGs.
• Behaviour — Students provides information about promoting positive behaviour, a tiered response approach for student behaviour, responding to challenging behaviours and professional learning opportunities for school staff.
• Career education and workplace learning for students with disability provides information about supporting students with a disability in their career and pathway planning.
• Transitions and pathways provides information on how to support transitions to primary school, and transitions to secondary school for students with disability.
• Transitions from AllPlay Learn provides guidance and information on transitions to primary school, transitioning throughout the primary school day, transition to secondary school, transitioning to year 11 and 12, and transitioning to post-school education or employment.

Resources to support schools to make teaching, assessment and reporting adjustments

• ABLES is an assessment and reporting tool. Advice is available on how to integrate ABLES into the teaching and learning cycle and a free online professional learning course is available for teachers and support staff.
• Towards Foundation Victorian Curriculum F-10 Guidelines for Students with Disabilities provides advice for school leaders and teachers to support the delivery of high-quality curriculum for all students, with a focus on those students with disability.
• The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority has developed information and resources, including illustrations of practice, to show how teachers can adapt the curriculum for students with disabilities.

Resources to support schools to make environment and resource adjustments

• The Inclusion and Diversity Policy template (staff login required) has been developed by the department's Legal Division as a school-wide policy for inclusion.
• Student Engagement Policy provides advice, resources and strategies to assist schools to create an effective local student engagement policy which provides the basis on which schools develop and maintain safe, supportive and inclusive school environments.
• Equipment and assistive technology professional practice guides support schools to identify, purchase and implement inclusive equipment and assistive technology that will best meet the needs of their students. Practice guides are available on inclusive equipment and assistive technology, portable Soundfield systems, inclusive software, and Boardmaker.