What's fair?

Adjustments are designed to enable a student to learn on the same basis as others. However, ‘the same’ is not always ‘fair’. Reasonable adjustments support students with disability to access education like other students. An adjustment that is reasonable for one student does not have to be made for all other students.

Sub topics

• On the same basis
• Enrolling
• Participating
• Learning and achieving
• Getting support
• That’s not fair!

Question

A school is planning a camp with numerous outdoor activities, including rafting. Theo has coordination difficulties, and the raft rocks violently and risks capsizing when he tries to paddle with his crew. What should the school do?

• Arrange for Theo to sit in the boathouse and watch a movie about rafting while his classmates paddle on the river.

  This prevents Theo from participating in an activity on the same basis as his classmates.

• Allow Theo to paddle anyway, because all the students have to wear lifejackets and they will be safe even if the raft overturns.

  Theo and his classmates may be safe, but they may be embarrassed at constantly falling in the water and the activity may be too difficult for Theo to concentrate on developing his paddling skills.

• Consult an outdoor education specialist about ways to stabilise Theo's raft.

  Stabilising the raft is an adjustment that allows Theo to enjoy the activity without worrying about capsizing and assists him to concentrate on developing his paddling skills.