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- Dr Talia Morris
- Building X5A 118
- Macquarie University 2109
- T: +61 2 9850 9628
- E: talia.morris@mq.edu.au
See Macquarie's dedicated education and diversity group
See the research groupIncreasingly, schools and teachers make decisions about any additional support and adjustments these students may require. We know little about how these decisions are made.
Current research suggests there is an over-reliance on teacher assistants (called school learning support officers – SLSOs – in NSW public schools) and perhaps a lack of consideration of alternative supports and adjustments.
This research project will be the first to examine the ways in which schools make decisions about the adjustments provided for students with disability. It aims to provide:
Researchers and participants are active within this project:
The project will involve three linked phases:
1. An in-depth qualitative study will gather perspectives from key stakeholders including parents, students, teachers, special educators, SLSOs, principals and school counsellors. Decision-making processes, goals for adjustment for specific students, resources provided to support students, and satisfaction with current processes will be investigated.
2. Analysis of interviews results will be used to conduct a large-scale survey of NSW schools regarding decision-making processes.
3. A pilot project to develop and evaluate a professional learning resource package aimed at improving decision-making in schools.