The future of schools for students with a disability is a controversial subject. Two years ago, the Disability Royal Commission recommended special schools be phased out across the country. Since then, some states are investing more than ever into the education model.
00:00Thorne is thriving at home and school, but that hasn't always been the way for the 10-year-old.
00:07He was suspended more often than he was at school. I think his attendance was something like 40%.
00:12His mum says she felt pressure for her son, who has autism, to go to a special school instead.
00:18He was in a place of asking, why is my brain bad? Pretty heartbreaking stuff.
00:25The turning point was a new teacher at his state primary school.
00:29I think just had this attitude of wanting to be able to support all kids.
00:34She's worried about the fate of other students with a disability.
00:37Around the country, there are big investments being made into special schools, including in Queensland, which has just announced plans to build six.
00:46It is very disappointing and extremely concerning that we are seeing this trend towards segregation.
00:52As a controversial topic, even the Disability Royal Commission couldn't come to a consensus,
00:57with half the commissioners recommending special schools be phased out by 2051,
01:02while the other three commissioners disagreed, instead calling for stronger relationships between mainstream and special schools.
01:09We favour choice for parents and to make sure that we certainly aren't going to close special schools.
01:15That was a split decision of the Royal Commission.
01:18He says there's been a clear demand for the schools announced in the state budget.
01:22We needed to make sure that we have adequate planning and access for parents who have their students that need to go to special schools.
01:30I've worked with some very, very complex kids over the years and I struggle to imagine how they would be accommodated in a mainstream classroom.
01:40Dawn's mum wants the money invested into existing schools instead.
01:44I think a lot of teachers would be more open to inclusion if there was money to make it happen.
01:50I've worked with some very many Kings.
01:53I'm going to sit on the floor and say it doesn't have a big issue.
01:55I can't wait for the help of my friends to make it happen.
01:57I'm going to wish to be careful.
01:59I think it's not going to be a small class for me.
02:00Once a week, it's of course in the last week with a year.
02:01So if I have a great idea.
02:03It's a very good idea of what you're doing.
02:04I'm going to be able to do that.
02:05So if you're going to get through all the current schools,
02:06it's the beginning level of our program π.
02:08And typically, when I have a very strong training,
02:10a very strong training,
02:11you might be able to look into it you know that.
02:13It's a very common sense of the Sometimes I'm looking at the time when I see
