Jane is an academic teaching scholar at The College of Arts & Education at Victoria University. In this episode, Jane discusses her recent experience providing a talk with TEDx, Universal Design, youth work, and social change in disability and special needs.
Though some with disabilities believe their condition to be part of their identity, others do not. That is why diverse representation in all sectors of society is important. Jane suggests safe places and individualized approaches do have a use, but that the notion of special needs should be removed. Every student has their learning needs in a classroom, even if the way they may acquire a skill is different. The notion of special creates the ‘other’ which destroys inclusion and generates an "us vs them" system.
