Best Start Support Coordination

Best Start Support Coordination Registered NDIS Provider and highly qualified and experienced educator offering NDIS and special education tutoring services.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY AND SCHOOL SUSPENSION Schools have a legal responsibility to ensure that reasonable adjustments...
29/06/2025

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY AND SCHOOL SUSPENSION

Schools have a legal responsibility to ensure that reasonable adjustments are put in place for students with disability so that they can access their education on the same basis as students without a disability. This includes support to address behaviour related to the disability. For students with disability, any decision in relation to suspension must be consistent with the Ministerial Order 1125, the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities, anti-discrimination laws and any other relevant laws, such as duty of care and occupational health and safety.

For more information:
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/suspensions/guidance/1-suspension-considerations -of-human-rights-and-responsibilities

If you feel your school is not making 'reasonable adjustments' to support your child to manage behaviours related to their disability that have caused them to be suspended from school, you have the right to complain.

If you choose to make a complaint, you might find this resource very helpful:

https://www.education.gov.au/download/18344/steps-raise-concerns-and-resolve-complaint-your-school/38253/document/pdf

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Managing Difficult Conversations With Your Child’s School is essential to ensure your child gets the support they are en...
08/06/2025

Managing Difficult Conversations With Your Child’s School is essential to ensure your child gets the support they are entitled to. This article includes some useful tips.

Parents, discover how to manage difficult conversations to achieve a positive result while maintaining productive relationships with your child's school.

12/04/2025

Is your child's educational provider making adequate reasonable adjustments that ensure your child is being supported to meet their full potential throughout their educational journey?

A reasonable adjustment is a measure or action taken to help a student with a learning difficulty and/or disability take part in their education on the same basis as their peers.

Under the Disability Standards for Education 2005, education providers are legally required to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities.

Education providers must take reasonable steps to make adjustments in a reasonable time.

Adjustments can be made:

- in the classroom
- in the playground
- to excursions and camps
- to the premises.

These adjustments often benefit not only the student involved but the entire school.

There are multiple kinds of adjustments you can make to meet your student’s needs. Examples include:

- providing access to classroom materials through assistive technologies such as screen readers

- adapting the physical environment, for example, installing ramps

- modifying the curriculum and assessments, for example allowing a student to answer assessments orally or use a computer

- presenting classroom materials in a different way such as visual, oral or demonstrations

- adapting teaching style, for example breaking lessons and/or activities into smaller sections so they are easier to understand

- reducing the distance between classes/classrooms for students who have physical disabilities

- giving extra time to move from class to class
allowing more time to complete an exam or assessment or giving the student rest breaks

- planning excursions in accessible locations, for example making sure the location is wheelchair accessible.

Source: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/learningneeds/Pages/reasonable-adjustments.aspx

If you have concerns that your child's educational provider doesn't fully understand their requirements regarding making reasonable adjustments for your child, I may be able to assist.

You are welcome to contact me at beststartsc@gmail.com

Beststartsc.com.au

22/03/2025

Hi. I'm Steph Shanahan, an independent, NDIS registered Specialist Support Coordinator. I'm based in Northern Melbourne. I have over 30 years experience working with children and young adults with a range of disabilities. I joined this group to offer my services to families that might find them useful and to connect with other providers. Please message me if you'd like to discuss how we might work together to empower people with disability to achieve their full potential.

The NDIS and Schools: Who is responsible for what? Many of the families with children with disabilities I work with are ...
15/02/2025

The NDIS and Schools: Who is responsible for what?

Many of the families with children with disabilities I work with are often unsure about what supports should be provided by schools and what supports should be provided by the NDIS. This confusion sometimes makes families reluctant to ask either their school or the NDIS for what they are entitled to. So, to clarify:

Schools are responsible for supports for your child's learning at school, including:

• teaching, learning assistants and other supports such as Auslan interpreters
• general support, resources and training for teachers, tutors and other staff
• therapy delivered in schools for education or training purposes, such as allied health practitioners
• aids and equipment to make the curriculum accessible, such as modified computer hardware, software and Braille textbooks
• school building modifications such as ramps, lifts and hearing loops
• transport for educational or training activities such as excursions, field trips and sporting carnivals.

If your child is a NDIS participant this will not affect any extra support they get at school to support their education. This includes support your child may be getting if they are eligible for Disability Inclusion or the Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD).
PSD is one of the supports available to help schools meet the needs of eligible students with disability and high needs who attend Victorian government schools. Disability Inclusion (DI) is the new funding and support model for students with disability. For more information about PSD and DI, see https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/disability-inclusion-funding-support/policy and https://www.vic.gov.au/program-students-disabilities-psd.

Supports the NDIS is responsible for:

The NDIS is responsible for support your child gets for their disability to help with their daily lives, for example:
• equipment that needs to be transported such as a wheelchair or personal communication devices
• therapies a family and school have agreed may be delivered during school time but are not for educational purposes
• specialised training of teachers and other staff about the specific personal support needs of a student with a disability
• transport to and from school and specialist transition supports to and from school to further education, training or employment.
• personal care and support. Your child may need personal care assistance at school to support their activities of daily living. This may include help with, toileting, eating and drinking, dressing, moving around or complex health or medical support. Personal care is currently provided by school staff. This arrangement will continue until the end of the 2024 school year. The department will continue to work with the Commonwealth to agree future arrangements.

If your child is an NDIS participant and gets personal care it will be in their NDIS plan. When you see ‘personal care in school’ support in your child’s NDIS plan, it’s only there to show that you get the service. You do not need to use your NDIS funds to pay for this service, and you can’t manage it yourself. You do not need to pay anyone for your child's personal care at school and you cannot use the money in your child's plan for a different personal carer.

For more information, visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/ndis-and-schools

Examples of school education supports that are not provided by the NDIS:

• Education and tuition fees across all education settings, including reduced school fees for families with financial difficulties
• Fees or payments for outside school hours care, including before school, after school, student free days, vacation care and school holiday programs
• Day-to-day support and supervision of school-age participants, whether they’re at school, excluded from school or attending school on reduced hours
• Standard school equipment, including school uniforms, shoes, lunchboxes or drink bottles
• Personalised learning or supports students need to help them learn, including Auslan interpretation or other inclusion supports
• Learning aids or equipment needed for learning, such as modified computer hardware, education software and braille textbooks
• Textbooks and teaching aids, including in alternative formats
• Fixed and non-transportable assistive technology that students may need to access their education, such as hoists and specially adapted furniture
• Making reasonable adjustments to school buildings so that students can access the school, such as ramps, lifts and hearing loops
• Teaching, learning assistance and other services from teachers and other staff employed by the school or relevant education Department, either at school or in alternative settings
• Tutors and scribes
• Educational supports for home schooling
• School refusal programs
• Fees for school camps, incursions or excursions
• Transport between school activities, including excursions and sporting carnivals
• Work experience that’s generally provided as part of a school program
• Changes to the curriculum to meet students’ learning needs
• General support, tools, training and awareness building for teachers and other school staff to support and engage students with a disability
• Therapy delivered in schools for education purposes, such as allied health practitioners helping classroom teachers to adjust the curriculum
• Case coordination for a student’s educational supports.

For more information, visit this link:
https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/how-ndis-supports-work-menu/mainstream-and-community-supports/who-responsible-supports-you-need/school-education

If you would like further assistance to make sense of this often-confusing space, my contact details are:

Steph Shanahan
E: beststartsc@gmail.com
M: 0409 870 156

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02/01/2025

Please note, I am not a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst, nor am I NDIS registered as a Behaviour Analyst. I am registered as a Specialist Support Coordinator/Support Coordinator. I studied Behaviour Analysis to strengthen my understanding and skills regarding observing people’s behaviour and collecting data related to that behaviour so that I could better understand what they are trying to communicate when they engage in behaviours that might be concerning to themselves or those who care for them. Through better understanding what people are trying to communicate, we can assist them to develop strategies and skills to help them communicate in less concerning ways, educate those around them to better understand and support their communication strategies and modify people’s environments so that they feel safe, and more easily able to access their needs. I am focussed on modifying the environment, upskilling the person’s support team, and celebrating neurodiversity, not suppressing it.

Send a message to learn more

What are Disability Inclusion Profiles (DIPs) and how I can help you through the DIPs process.  Disability Inclusion Pro...
01/01/2025

What are Disability Inclusion Profiles (DIPs) and how I can help you through the DIPs process.

Disability Inclusion Profiles (DIPs) are part of the Victorian Government’s $1.6 billion Disability Inclusion investment. The profiles are designed to be a strengths-based process to help schools and families identify the student’s strengths and needs, what educational adjustments schools can make to help students with disability and school disability funding levels for students.

DIPs are currently being rolled out in the following areas:
• Bayside Peninsula
• Barwon
• Brimbank Melton
• Central Highlands
• Goulburn
• Inner Gippsland
• Loddon Campaspe
• Mallee
• North Eastern Melbourne
• Outer Eastern Melbourne
• Ovens Murray
• Southern Melbourne
• Western Melbourne.
The profile and surrounding process will progressively replace the PSD application process.

(Source: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/disability-inclusion-profile/policy 1/01/2025)

Association for Children with Disability (ACD) is the leading advocacy service for children with disability and their families in Victoria.

In March 2024, ACD held two online sessions with families of children with disability to hear about their experience with Disability Inclusion Profiles, which are currently being rolled-out and implemented across government schools.

ACD found:
• Some families felt they were unprepared for the meeting due to not been provided with adequate information about the DIP process. Families also felt stressed by feeling that this may have prevented them achieving the best outcome for their child.

• ‘Families shared experiences of being told by their school their children weren’t eligible or wouldn’t receive funding to justify the school’s decision not to apply. This created challenges for families who ultimately believed their child was in scope and would benefit from a DIP.’

• ‘Families reported the DIP gave them an understanding of functional domains and that this was helpful when talking to the NDIS. Families shared the DIP report as part of their child’s NDIS plan reassessment, and they reported it was good evidence of their child’s support needs.’

(Source: Association for Children with Disability Snapshot: Families’ experience of the Disability Inclusion Profile process May 2024)

As an educator with 30 years of experience in Inclusion Leadership in schools, I have undertaken training in the DIPs process and successfully supported school staff and families through the DIPs process. I now offer this expertise and experience to families and schools to ensure that eligible students secure the Victorian Department of Education funding they are entitled to so those students can access the education that will provide them with the best start possible. (Note: this is not a NDIS funded service.)

If you are a school or family who think I could help, these are my contact details:

Steph Shanahan
beststartsc@gmail.com
0409 870 156
Beststartsc.com.au

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Do you have students in your class or school who you know need extra support but, you're finding it hard to support them...
04/11/2024

Do you have students in your class or school who you know need extra support but, you're finding it hard to support them appropriately while juggling all the competing demands of working in a school? Maybe I can help.

With 30 years experience in Inclusive education and post graduate qualifications in Student Wellbeing, Special Education and Behaviour Analysis, I have completed many successful funding applications under both the Program for Students with Disabilities Management System (PSDMS) and Disability Inclusion Profile (DIP) process. This has include supporting school staff to meet all Department of Education requirements. I have also supported families to make successful NDIS applications and access and coordinate related services.

I have worked with families, schools and multidisciplinary service providers to develop and implement effective Individual Education Plans and Positive Behaviour Support Plans.

My experience in schools, my qualifications and my willingness to keep up to date with the latest, evidence based practice, enable me to design and implement effective interventions that are realistically responsive to modern school environments.

These are services that I can provide for the students at your school who might need a little extra support to reach their full potential.

If you think I might be able to help, don’t hesitate to make contact to discuss how we might work together to ensure all students have the Best Start.

Ph: 0409 870 156
Email: beststartsc@gmail.com

Helping you find and coordinate providers, services and supports to make the most of your child's NDIS plan.

10/10/2024

Is your child experiencing difficulties with school work or social skills?

I might be able to assist…

I can work with you, your child and your child’s school to help develop, implement and monitor the effectiveness of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and/or a Behaviour Support Plan (BSP). I use information, including academic and social history, assessments and observations gathered from you, your child, the school and any other professionals who might be supporting your child, to create a data informed, evidence based IEP and/or BSP with clear goals and strategies that have proven to be effective through peer reviewed research based on your child’s specific needs.

I can also help you identify and source appropriate professionals who might be able to assist you and your child to better understand your child’s support needs and access the help you need to improve your child’s daily life and future outcomes.

I have been an educator in the school Inclusion space for over 30 years and worked with hundreds of children with special support needs. I have also trained other school staff to do the same. I can draw on this extensive experience to assist your child to have the best start in life.

My contact details:
beststartsc@gmail.com
0409 870 156

Your child does not need to have an NDIS plan to access these services.

Address

PO Box 30 Pascoe Vale South
Pascoe Vale, VIC
3044

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