A new government initiative aimed at bolstering support for special educational needs has come under fire for not tackling critical staffing shortages. Teenage disability rights advocate Cara Darmody voiced concerns that the plan overlooks a significant issue impacting families across the country.
The government’s proposal, intended to streamline support for special education, has been criticized for its failure to address the growing waiting list for Assessments of Needs (AONs). This backlog is largely attributed to insufficient staffing, which remains unaddressed in the current plan.
Darmody, who has been vocal about the challenges faced by families seeking timely assessments, described the staffing issue as “the elephant in the room”. She emphasized that without addressing these shortages, the plan would fall short of its goals.
Advocates are calling for immediate action to increase the number of qualified professionals available to conduct AONs, warning that delays in assessments could hinder timely support for children in need.
Leave a Reply