School consultation about disability adjustments in Australia

Start with the student’s actual needs

Write down the student’s strengths, the barriers affecting access or learning, the support already being tried and what evidence shows about progress. This makes conversations with the school more specific and easier to review.

Ask the school to make the process clear

Ask what policy or procedure applies, who is responsible for the next step, what will be documented and when the decision or support will be reviewed. Keep copies of plans, meeting notes, reports and important emails.

What a useful plan should make clear

• the student’s strengths and identified needs
• specific goals or intended outcomes
• adjustments, strategies, services or supports
• who will implement them and in which settings
• how progress or effectiveness will be monitored
• when the plan will be reviewed

Questions to take to the next meeting

• What framework applies to my child in this jurisdiction?
• What support can begin now?
• How will the agreed support be recorded?
• What evidence will we use to decide whether it is working?
• What is the next step if we disagree or the support is not implemented?