Miss-Delectable
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Left out in the cold - Education News - theage.com.au
FOR many parents, driving their children around is just part of the daily routine. But for Melton mother Helen Ziccone, it really is a case of serving as "mum's taxi".
Mrs Ziccone gave up her job last year so she could drive her nine-year-old son Jarl, who is profoundly deaf, to a deaf facility at St Albans East Primary School.
With the school run averaging about 600 kilometres a week, she says without substantial government assistance, forfeiting her job was the only option.
"I did not want to give up my job but have had to because how else is my son supposed to get to school?" asked Mrs Ziccone.
Groups representing deaf children and their parents say the Ziccones are one of many families who have been disadvantaged by Education Department policy that sought to phase out free transport for deaf students after a review of school bus services in 2001.
Before the review, the State Government provided free transport in a taxi for deaf students to attend deaf facilities at mainstream public schools. But since the review the transport was progressively withdrawn and replaced by an allowance.
The Education Department said an allowance of up to $2000 a year - an increase from $700 - was provided to help families with the costs of transporting their child to the deaf facilities at mainstream schools.
But groups lobbying against this policy say the allowance often equals just a few dollars a day for families. The Age believes the State Opposition plans to address the issue in its education policy to be released in the lead up to the November state election.
Deaf Children Australia said international research had shown teaching deaf and hearing students side-by-side in places such as deaf facilities at mainstream schools had many benefits.
It said enrolling deaf students in local schools without specialist support, such as qualified teachers of the deaf and interpreters, was not an option for some families because of the learning needs of their child.
The organisation said many parents were forced to give up work so they could drive their children to the facilities, while some families had to relocate.
The Victorian Opposition has promised to restore transport services for deaf children to get to public education institutions.
In a pre-election pitch, the Opposition leader Ted Baillieu said a Liberal government would restore taxi services for deaf children when there is no other option, at a cost of $5.6 million over five years.
The Bracks Government has said it will work with parents and school communities to make sure appropriate support is offered to students and families.
The Education Department says there are more than 400 students attending deaf facilities in mainstream schools, as well as special schools for the deaf.
The Parents Federation for Hearing Impaired Children Victoria said it was important that all deaf children could access this specialised education at mainstream schools.
"We have these really good deaf facilities but the students can't get to them," said federation secretary, Diana Nobbs. "So the numbers at deaf facilities are dwindling, which in turn threatens their viability."
FOR many parents, driving their children around is just part of the daily routine. But for Melton mother Helen Ziccone, it really is a case of serving as "mum's taxi".
Mrs Ziccone gave up her job last year so she could drive her nine-year-old son Jarl, who is profoundly deaf, to a deaf facility at St Albans East Primary School.
With the school run averaging about 600 kilometres a week, she says without substantial government assistance, forfeiting her job was the only option.
"I did not want to give up my job but have had to because how else is my son supposed to get to school?" asked Mrs Ziccone.
Groups representing deaf children and their parents say the Ziccones are one of many families who have been disadvantaged by Education Department policy that sought to phase out free transport for deaf students after a review of school bus services in 2001.
Before the review, the State Government provided free transport in a taxi for deaf students to attend deaf facilities at mainstream public schools. But since the review the transport was progressively withdrawn and replaced by an allowance.
The Education Department said an allowance of up to $2000 a year - an increase from $700 - was provided to help families with the costs of transporting their child to the deaf facilities at mainstream schools.
But groups lobbying against this policy say the allowance often equals just a few dollars a day for families. The Age believes the State Opposition plans to address the issue in its education policy to be released in the lead up to the November state election.
Deaf Children Australia said international research had shown teaching deaf and hearing students side-by-side in places such as deaf facilities at mainstream schools had many benefits.
It said enrolling deaf students in local schools without specialist support, such as qualified teachers of the deaf and interpreters, was not an option for some families because of the learning needs of their child.
The organisation said many parents were forced to give up work so they could drive their children to the facilities, while some families had to relocate.
The Victorian Opposition has promised to restore transport services for deaf children to get to public education institutions.
In a pre-election pitch, the Opposition leader Ted Baillieu said a Liberal government would restore taxi services for deaf children when there is no other option, at a cost of $5.6 million over five years.
The Bracks Government has said it will work with parents and school communities to make sure appropriate support is offered to students and families.
The Education Department says there are more than 400 students attending deaf facilities in mainstream schools, as well as special schools for the deaf.
The Parents Federation for Hearing Impaired Children Victoria said it was important that all deaf children could access this specialised education at mainstream schools.
"We have these really good deaf facilities but the students can't get to them," said federation secretary, Diana Nobbs. "So the numbers at deaf facilities are dwindling, which in turn threatens their viability."