The principles of inclusion for children and students with disability in care were developed to support and promote inclusive education and help early childhood centres and schools educate and support all students. 

The principles have been endorsed by the Department for Education, Catholic Education South Australia and the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia.

Purpose of the Principles

• promote equity, access, opportunity and the rights of children and students with disability in education and care
• contribute to reducing discrimination against children and students with disability where they are treated less fairly than their peers
• provide early childhood education and care centres (early childhood) and schools with broad and consistent criteria for inclusion so that they assess their progress towards inclusion
• provide early childhood and school sectors with broad and consistent criteria to assess their progress towards inclusion.

The Principles

• All children and students who experience disability have the right to access and participate in education.
• All children and students who experience disability have the ability to learn and the right to exercise their voice, choice and control in managing their own educational experiences.
• All children and students who experience disability have the right to develop to their fullest potential and to be active, valued citizens in the community.
• Teachers, early childhood education and care centre and school communities and the parents/carers/advocates of children and students who experience disability have the responsibility for taking action for inclusive behaviour in their education and care setting.
• All children and students who experience disability have the right to an appropriate and adequate allocation of resources to enable their right to access and participate meaningfully in education.
• All children and students who experience disability, their parents/carers/advocates, teachers and members of the early childhood education and care centre and school communities have the right to be safe – physically, emotionally, culturally and socially and to be treated respectfully.
• All children and students who experience disability, their parents/carers/advocates, teachers and members of the school community have the responsibility to operate within the legal framework provided by the Australian and South Australian governments.