Tayla Corrigan

S00117249

Dear Ms. Doolan,

I am writing today to ask you to please change your decision on refusing my
daughter Lucy a position at this school. Lucy may be hearing impaired, but it
does not mean she is deaf. She has a hearing disability known as conductive
hearing. This is caused by problems in the outer or middle ear which prevent
the sound from being conducted to the inner ear and hearing nerves.
Conductive problems generally affect the quantity (loudness only) of the sound
that is heard (Australian Hearing, 2010). Lucy is in the process of being
surgically treated for this. In your Vision Statement you state we enable
children to live a full life as a child and to realize their potential as a unique
person and appreciate our diverse needs and backgrounds with a genuine
acceptance of all within the school and parish community (St.Marys, 2012). By
denying Lucy a place in this school you are denying Lucy a chance to reach her
full potential and not adhering to your own vision statement. As the Disability
Discrimination Act (2008) states, Students with a
disability should be able to enroll in a course or a school
just like any other person. The Disability Standards for
education (2008) declares that these standards protect
any person with a disability from discrimination by an

7.1/7.2 This demonstrates

my understanding of professional ethics and legislative requirements

education provider meaning you have denied Lucy her

rights as a child to have an education.
Lucy is a very bright and motivated child. She likes to involve herself in many
extra-curricular activities. She participates in Tennis, Basketball and Swimming.
Her motor functions are very good and she loves to socialise. Lucy will always
give everything a go and has always encouraged others to do so too. She does
not let her hearing impairment get in the way of anything she wants to achieve.
Lucy would be a great attribution to your school. She would contribute in many
ways. It would be wrong to refuse a child placement in your school as eager as
Lucy. According to Deaf Children Australia (2008) School is one of the main
institutions where children develop both socially and mentally, and develop
social and acceptable behaviours that will assist them later in life. Hearing
impaired children deserve the same experiences as hearing children as it
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Tayla Corrigan
S00117249

creates and molds the identity of the person they become in their future. Lucy
has the right to an education in a mainstream school just like any other child
would.
As Lucy is currently ten years old, she would not require a translator. To
support Lucy's learning, all the teacher would have to do is make sure she has a
seat up the front or where she can best hear as she will have a better chance of
hearing and seeing the information being presented. Use lots of visuals and also
clarify with Lucy at the end of an explanation that she understands what they
are doing. The Disability Standards clarify the obligations of education and
training providers to ensure that students with disabilities are able to access
and participate in education without experiencing discrimination (DDA, 2008).
This highlights the importance of Lucy receiving a mainstream education just
like any other child.
The Disability Discrimination Act protects people with a disability and makes
sure that they have the same educational opportunities and rights as a student
without a disability (DDA, 2008). Lucy has to work harder than any other
student to concentrate in class, and she is capable of doing so. By denying Lucy a
placement at this school, you would be going against the Disability
Discrimination Act and UNICEFs Convention on the Rights of the Child (2005)
as they have the right to a good quality education that should help children to
use and develop their talents and abilities. UNICEFs mission is to advocate for
the protection of childrens rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand
their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF is guided in doing this
by the provisions and principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
(UNICEF, 2005). In your schools motto Friends, Family, Community, and
Together We Grow (St.Marys, 2012), you are implying that your school is a
community where each child has a place to feel safe and to reach beyond their
potential. If this is true, you would accept Lucy and give her the chance to be in a
school community where she could shine and perform to the best of her ability.
The National Framework for Values Education (2005) noted that values based
education can strengthen students self-esteem, optimism and commitment to
personal fulfillment; and help students exercise ethical judgment and social
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Tayla Corrigan
S00117249

responsibility (p.1). This supports my argument to allow Lucy to attend your

school, as I believe your school incorporates each of these values and I can see
them being extremely valuable for Lucy to learn in order to help her become the
person she hopes to be. There are nine values for Australian Schooling- care and
compassion, doing your best, fair go, freedom, honesty and trustworthiness,
integrity, respect, responsibility, and understanding, tolerance and inclusion
(National Framework, 2005, p.1). These values in accordance with your vision
statement are very similar, and as you stated that you cater for diverse needs, I
have faith in you that you will accept Lucy into your school to mold her into
being an optimistic and resilient girl I know she is.
Sincerely yours,
Tayla Corrigan

7.1/7.2: This demonstrates my

understanding of principles of
inclusion, the intent behind the
National Safe Schools Framework, the relevant values in
the Framework for values in
education issues of social justice and children's rights and
the legislative requirements on
the school.

References
Australian Hearing. (2010). Conductive Hearing. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from
http://www.hearing.com.au/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=33&languageId=1&contentI
d=-1

Deaf Children Australia. (2008). Deaf Children Australia. Re trieved March 18,

2013, from http://www.deafchildrenaustralia.org.au

Tayla Corrigan
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Department of Education, Science and Training. (2005). National framework for

values in Australian schools. Prepared by the Student Learning and SupportServices

Taskforce Canberra

Department of Education, Science and Training. (2003). National safe schools

framework. Prepared by the Student Learning and Support Services Taskforce Canber-
ra.Page 13 of 28 Disability Standards for Education. (2005). Accessed from
www.dest.gov.au

National Disability Coordination Officer Program. (2008). Disability Discrimi-

nation Act: Your right to an education- a guide for students with a disability. Retrieved
March 19, 2013, from www.ddaedustandards.info

St.Marys Primary School. (2012). Friends, Family, Community, Together we

Grow. Retrieved March 16th, 2013, from

http://www.smhampton.catholic.edu.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article
&id=46&Itemid=28

UNICEF. (2005). Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved March 19th,

2013, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/