Page 2575 - Week 06 - Thursday, 24 June 2010
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(10) What impact will the lowering of the Black Mountain School graduating age have on post-school options and the Individual Support Package Program and how is the ACT Government catering for this impact.
Ms Burch: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) The ACT Department of Education and Training advise that the average number of year 12 students with a disability who graduated from ACT public schools between 2005 and 2009 was on average 63.
(2) The ACT Department of Education and Training advise that the average number of students who graduated from Black Mountain School between 2005 and 2009 was on average 12.
(3) The ACT Department of Education and Training and Disability ACT work together to encourage and support families to formally plan for their adolescent children to move into adulthood.
A designated post school options teacher in the ACT Department of Education and Training, works in partnership with schools and staff from Disability ACT to support students with a disability and their carers to plan for their post school lives. This planning occurs as a part of the student’s Individual Learning Plan process.
The Post School Options Expo is held each year to showcase the full range of vocational, educational, recreational and social supports available to all students with a disability in the ACT. Disability ACT has information staff at this event.
A comprehensive manual outlining all ACT and Commonwealth Government and community supports and services available to all students with disabilities -Future Pathway Guide - is available on the Disability ACT website.
Assistance with planning for families is provided, either directly by Disability ACT or by agencies it funds including the Local Area Coordination services, Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope (PATH) and Family Leadership and You (FLY).
Disability ACT funds two primary formal support models for school leavers who are not eligible for assistance from Commonwealth funded employment services:
o Transitional Pre vocational Support – available for up to 3 years
This type of service can assist people who have the capacity to participate in vocational activities such as employment, volunteering, further education, training, but who are not ready, or not able to do so without additional support.
o Ongoing Community Access Services
Community access services assist school leavers to maintain and further develop their artistic and recreational learning, life skills, to use community facilities and to participate in community events. Community access should be individualised, and provided in inclusive and normative community locations.
Students with further support needs are referred to the Disability ACT Registration of Interest.
The Registration of Interest process:
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