Students, Disability

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (15:06): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking questions of the minister representing the Minister for Education and Child Development about emergency and disaster planning and awareness in schools for students with disabilities.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: It has come to my attention recently that a James Cook University academic has been conducting research into levels of emergency and disaster planning readiness for school students with disabilities. The schools surveyed were in South Australia and Western Australia. It is concerning to note that this research demonstrates that students with disabilities in South Australia have a lower level of education and planning despite children with disabilities, including chronic medical conditions and special healthcare needs, being potentially among the most vulnerable to natural disasters.

Some may find it difficult to cope with their environment when support systems are drastically altered, especially those with a limited understanding of the level of danger they are in during and after a disaster event or who become anxious and confused in response to emergency signals. Children require more preparation and assistance to fully participate in emergency evacuation plans and to move quickly from an area likely to be affected by a disaster.

A study in the United States found that the evacuation rates were 9.25 per cent lower in households where one family member had a disability compared to other households in the aftermath of hurricanes Bonnie, Dennis and Floyd. Transportation issues and the lack of accessible shelters were reported as factors contributing to the decision not to evacuate. My questions to the minister are:

1. Does the minister agree that it is an outrage that in 2014 students with disabilities are not being taught emergency service procedures at the same rate as their non-disabled peers?

2. Does the minister agree that this is a clear case of discrimination against students with disabilities?

3. Does the minister agree that if there is a natural disaster or other emergency and students with disabilities and their teachers have not been adequately prepared by the department, the government could be liable for a negative outcome?

4. Does the minister agree that students with disabilities have the same rights to access full education and that their equal access to training and planning for disasters, particularly when some students have extra needs and additional vulnerabilities, is essential?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:09): I thank the honourable member for her most important questions to the Minister for Education and Child Development in the other place. I undertake to take those questions about emergency and disaster planning readiness for students with disabilities to her and seek a response on her behalf.