In Australia, almost all children with disability go to school. While it can be difficult to manage when living with SMA, help is available ensure your child gets the most out of their education.
Children with disability can choose to go to a specialist, public or private school, depending on their needs. In some states, children can spend part of the week at a public specialist school and the rest at a mainstream school. Home-schooling or distance education may also be an option for some children.
School students with severe or profound disability are more likely to go to a specialist school.1
Plan at least a year or more in advance
Make an appointment with the school principal
Attend school open days
Speak to other parents
Ask questions, including
Children with SMA will most likely need extra support when transitioning to secondary school. Strategies include:
Creating a transition plan
A transition plan is a tool developed by you and the primary school for sharing information about your child’s abilities, condition, current medical needs and other needs with secondary school staff.
Establishing a student support group (SSG)
An SSG is a partnership between you and the school staff, which may also include therapists or medical professionals. An SSG develops an individual learning plan for your child, which outlines learning goals for your child and explains how the school will help your child achieve them.