2018-05-04
The complainant sought to enrol her two youngest children at the respondent K-12 private school, which their older siblings already attended. She alleged the school refused her daughter’s enrolment because she has autism without taking steps to assess her support needs and refused to enrol her brother because of his association with her.
On being advised of the complaint, the school agreed to participate in conciliation.
The complaint was resolved with an agreement that the school revise its enrolment policy and process with a view to improving time frames, communication with families and collection and assessment of information regarding prospective students. The school principal agreed to write to the complainant and her children apologising for the events giving rise to the complaint. The school also agreed to organise a fundraising activity to raise awareness about autism and to donate proceeds and the equivalent of the fees for enrolment application to an agreed autism charity.
Year
Discrimination type
Disability Discrimination Act
Grounds
Associate
Disability
Unlawful to contravene Disability Standards
Areas
Education
Apology
Donation to charity
Policy change/change in practice
Amount