FAHSCIA

Fahcsia: worth a regular visit

As we can see from all the resources being posted on this WIKI, information and its management is an essential part of being an effective teacher, yet sometimes the overwhelming nature of these resources can seem, well, overwhelming. Churchill (2011, p. 519) states that teachers need ongoing education and “up to date knowledge and awareness of a wide range of issues – and of how these issues are relevant” ’ at all levels, from the classroom through to international perspectives.

A website I found useful when looking for current information on where to find help for parents with a child with a disability is the Australian Government’s webpage [|http://www.fahcsia.gov.au] (Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs). This is an excellent resource which can lead you in many directions, wit exhaustivcelinks to other service providers across Australia in many areas of disability.

For example, information is available on new initiatives such as [|the][|**Better Start for Children with Disability (Better Start) initiative**]which started on July 1 2011, and “aims to improve access to early intervention services for eligible children (under 6 years of age) with disabilities that affect their development.” This includes funding through Medicare and is directed at children with Down’s Syndrome, cerebral palsy, Fragile X and a moderate or greater vision or hearing impairment, including deafblindness. There is also considerable information for parents of children with autism including funding programs ([|Helping Children with Autism]).

Teachers can use this site as a resource when assisting parents who need information on after school programs for teenagers with a disability, auslan, advocacy, captioning, postal services and help for carers. A quick look over the links under the heading Programs and Services for People with Disability ([]) can inform teachers and parents of many new or lesser-known services. Knowledge of these services is important to teachers when dealing with parents of children with a disability who themselves are not armed with the knowledge or know-how on where to find the information. This could be particularly helpful for those parents with English as a second language. It is also useful for the teacher to know what funding is available and relevant to their own classroom. An example of this is a link to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) which provides information on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) such as "professional development for teachers and other school staff to support school students with ASDs to achieve better educational outcomes", and funding for parents and carers of school students with ASDs to attend workshops and information sessions and to access online workshops and information. ([]). This type of Professional Development for teachers can improve classroom outcomes and help to maintain relevancy for teachers, especially when teaching children with disabilities.

The Fahcsia website provides links to appropriate other government sectors which provide support for teachers of students with disabilities. For example, teachers in early childhood can read the Inclusion and Professional Support Program (IPSP) [|Discussion Paper] and offer feedback via the DEEWR website. Of course, this website is also crucial to teachers’ ongoing professional development and understanding of government initiatives in education.

References Churchill, R., Ferguson, P., Godinho, S., Johnson, N., Keddie, A., Letts, W., Mackay, J., McGill, M., Moss, J., Nagel, M., Nicholson, P., Vick, M. (2011), //Teaching: Making a Difference//. John Wiley & Sons: Milton Ltd, Australia