Review of Criteria for EAP Disability Categories of: Autism Spectrum Disorder Intellectual Impairment and Speech-Langu

1. Review of Criteria for EAP Disability Categories of:Autism Spectrum Disorder Intellectual Impairment and Speech-Language Impairment Introduction

2. Setting the Context • Educators identify and respond to the learning needs of ALL students • Education adjustments are typically made as early as possible after identifying that the student is experiencing difficulties: • accessing the curriculum, • achieving curriculum outcomes and • participating in school life • These are professional and legislative obligations Education Adjustment Program

3. Definition of Disability • Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Commonwealth) • Disability, in relation to a person, means: • (a) total or partial loss of the person’s bodily or mental functions; or • (b) total or partial loss of a part of the body; or • (c) the presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness; or • (d) the presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or • illness; or • (e) the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of the person’s • body; or • (f) a disorder or malfunction that results in the person learning differently • from a person without the disorder or malfunction; or • (g) a disorder, illness or disease that affects a person’s thought processes, • perception of reality, emotions or judgment or that results in disturbed • behaviour; • and includes a disability that: • (h) presently exists; or • (i) previously existed but no longer exists; or • (j) may exist in the future; or • is imputed to a person. Education Adjustment Program

4. Disability Definitions The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) definition of disability applies to a greater number of students than those identified through the Education Adjustment Program. Education Adjustment Program

5. EAP Disability Categories • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) • Hearing Impairment (HI) • Intellectual Impairment (II) • Physical Impairment (PI) • Speech-Language Impairment (SLI) • Vision Impairment (VI) Education Adjustment Program

6. Education Adjustment Program The Education Adjustment Program (EAP) commenced in 2005. Education Adjustment Program

7. EAP Process Quality Assurance Points Recognised Specialists Statewide Verifiers Principal authorises accuracy Validation process Step 1 Identification Step 2 Obtain & record parent permission to start process Step 3 Diagnosis / Specialist Assessment Step 4 Register student on database (AIMS) Step 5 Verification of Disability Adjustments Step 6 EAP Profile/s completed and submitted Step 7 Validation Education Adjustment Program

8. Verification • Centralised verification in 2006 • Revised criteria for HI, PI and VI in 2007 verification cycle • Revised criteria for ASD, II and SLI in Semester 2 2009 Education Adjustment Program

9. Purpose of Reviews To review existing criteria in terms of: • Current best practice in education • Current definitions of disability • Procedural consistency • Conceptual clarity Education Adjustment Program

10. Review Process • Reference group • Working parties • Reports and recommendations • Approval • Implementation Education Adjustment Program

11. Outcome of Reviews • Definition of category • Criteria • Consistency of forms Education Adjustment Program

12. Outcome of Reviews The changes are not anticipated to impact on the cohort of students identified in the disability categories of ASD, II or SLI. Education Adjustment Program

13. Criteria All disability categories have two criteria: • Criterion 1 relating to impairment • Criterion 2 relating to activity limitations and participation restrictions for the student at school resulting from the impairment Education Adjustment Program

14. Revised Criteria (from 29 June 2009) Criterion 1 Impairment + Criterion 2 Activity limitations/ participation restrictions = Disability Adapted from: World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) (WHO, 2001) Education Adjustment Program

15. Revised Criteria (from 29 June 2009) • Criterion 1: • The impairment(medical condition or other impairment in structure or function) is diagnosed by an authorised specialist: • external to the department e.g. paediatrician • or • internal to the department e.g. speech-language pathologist or guidance officer Education Adjustment Program 15

16. Revised Criteria (from 29 June 2009) Criterion 2: The activity limitations and participation restrictionsresult from the impairment Teachers and specialists should be involved in determining how the impairment affects delivery of the student’s educational program Education Adjustment Program

17. Verification Forms • The information collected in ASD, II and SLI for criterion 2 will be in a similar format • This will aid schools in understanding the student’s needs arising from the impairment Education Adjustment Program

18. Implementation Timeline • Existing criteria for ASD, II and SLI current for Semester 1 2009 • Information sessions and training during Terms 1 and 2 2009 • Handbook for the Education Adjustment Program • Website updated Term 2 2009 • Implementation of revised criteria from 29 June 2009 Education Adjustment Program

19. Further Information EAP Website http://education.qld.gov.au/students/disabilities/adjustment/ Gateway to Educational Adjustments and Programming http://elearn.eq.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp Gateway Registration Information http://education.qld.gov.au/lpas/public/community/ViewCommunity.aspx?CommunityId=2862 Education Adjustment Program