Disability
Who are learners with a disability?
The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 provides a definition of learners with a disability.
This is quite broad and includes:
- total or partial loss of the person's bodily or mental functions
- total or partial loss of a part of the body
- the presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness
- the presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness
- the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of the person's body
- a disorder or malfunction that results in the person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction
- a disorder, illness or disease that affects a person's thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgement or that results in disturbed behaviour.
The definition of disability includes those learners with disability who are supported by general resources available within the school or service, as well as learners who are receiving targeted specialist education services and supports.
The impact of the learner’s disability should result in the school or service actively addressing the learner’s specific individual education needs arising from their disability. This should be done within quality differentiated teaching practice and / or by monitoring the learner, or providing a ‘supplementary’ / higher level of support.
Domain
Domain is a term used to categorise the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST). There are three domains
1. Professional knowledge
2. Professional practice
3. Professional engagement
Teachers are required to address at least one standard in each domain through the PD they undertake each year.