A parliamentary inquiry into disability education in New South Wales (NSW) has called for a comprehensive system across public, independent, and Catholic schools to better support students with disabilities and ensure they have access to mainstream education. The inquiry recommended increasing funding for distance education and expanding teacher training to better address the needs of students with disabilities, especially those with autism spectrum disorder. NSW Greens MP Abigail Boyd criticized the current system for forcing parents to choose between inadequate mainstream or segregated settings for their children. The demand for special needs education has risen significantly over the past decade, with more students enrolling in special support programs (SSPs) and additional resources being allocated to meet this demand.
