Big steps towards more inclusive schooling

Down Syndrome Victoria is set to deliver a first-of-its-kind education portal to support children with Down syndrome to achieve the best possible learning outcomes at school, aided by a multi-year grant from Bank of Melbourne Foundation.  

 

Since community-based information and support organisation Down Syndrome Victoria was set up in 1978, a lot has changed for the better for the organisation’s beneficiaries. 

“Back then, the average life expectancy of people with Down syndrome was just 19 years – now it’s more than 60,” says the not-for-profit’s CEO Daniel Payne. 

 

“While medical advances have played a role, you can’t underestimate the positive impact of greater social inclusion in everyday life, and that’s what we remain committed to – for people with Down syndrome to have access to the same opportunities, supports and community activities as other Victorians, so they can reach their potential and live the life they choose.” 

 

Among the spectrum of services offered – from pre-natal support, to employment services, to ageing well programs – a big focus for the organisation is on advocating more inclusive schooling environments in which children with Down syndrome are encouraged to fully participate and achieve their best during this critical life stage. 

 

“Research shows that inclusive education leads to better academic and social outcomes,” Payne says. “While some families choose specialist schools for their children with Down syndrome, a steady rise in students participating in mainstream schools has seen the ratio increase to around 50 percent in primary school years.”   

 

But more work is needed to tear down remaining barriers to inclusivity in those mainstream settings, Payne concedes. “Every child is entitled to attend their local government school, but we know some parents of children with Down syndrome are confronted with pushback when enrolling their child,” he says. “We also know that some teachers feel they don't have the expertise to fully include those students, so our goal is to support them – the parents, the teachers and the students – by providing resources, knowledge and training.” 

 

In the past few years, Down Syndrome Victoria has supported around 60 students annually as part of its classroom-based education support service, through which practical assistance and resources are provided to teachers and families throughout the year to improve learning outcomes. Training webinars to assist teachers and a biennial education conference to convene inclusive schooling experts, are among other services provided.  

 

This program of work received a huge boost last year when the organisation successfully applied for a multi-year grant from Bank of Melbourne Foundation, giving it the certainty needed to plan out its program over three years. 

 

“Importantly, the funding is enabling us to build a first-of-its-kind online education portal, which will create a peer-to-peer community of teachers who have students with Down syndrome, so they can connect, share knowledge, swap ideas and give each other support,” Payne says. 

 

“It will be a one-stop-shop – housing a wealth of useful resources and videos, along with professional development modules with best practice strategies to support students in areas such as reading and writing – and it will all be there to be accessed whenever teachers need it.   

 

“We are so excited to get this up and running and, ultimately, to share it with our interstate counterparts.”