Students with disabilities are to get more support to help them finish school and eventually find a job.

Good news for carers of students with disabilities is that the federal government has agreed to provide more support to help them complete school and find a job.

This initiative has a great deal of potential to help carers who might otherwise need to leave their employment when their child finishes high school.

This is the reality that faces many carers. Their child has a social network and a support structure while at school, but when school is over, the friends and the support often disappear – leaving both the young person and the family struggling.

Some parents have little option but to quit work to stay at home to support the young person, who quickly can become isolated and withdrawn, with little prospects for any kind of independent life.

Under the federal government’s new National Partnership, signed by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell last month, the Gillard government is providing an extra $47.9 million to support children in NSW government schools.

This is part of the national $200 million More Support for Students with Disabilities initiative.

The extra funding will be delivered through a new National Partnership that will allow schools to make the best choices for their students so they can learn more easily and engage with their classmates, teachers and support staff.

For example, schools could use these funds to purchase new assistive technology like computer software, audio and visual tools and low vision aids.

The funding could also help schools make decisions about additional teacher and support staff training, extra hours of in-class support and further teachers’ aides.

Funding for non-government schools in NSW under the initiative will be provided through funding agreements that align with this National Partnership.

Prime Minister Gillard said that: “We know that having the right support at school makes a world of difference for the future of students with disabilities.

“Without this type of support for schools, students with disabilities are less likely to complete Year 12, putting them at greater risk of unemployment and social exclusion.

“The workforce participation rate for people with disabilities is currently only 53 per cent, meaning thousands of Australians do not have the benefits of a job.

“We can make a difference by starting in the classroom and helping every child reach their full potential.

“The Gillard Government is determined to make sure people with disabilities and their carers get the best support and the care they deserve.

“Work is also underway to develop the first ever National Disability Insurance Scheme - an historic reform that will ensure Australians with disabilities have access to the services they need to participate in society.

“The Government is also working with the states and territories to develop a nationally agreed model of collecting information about students with disabilities.

“This will allow us to develop the first Australia-wide picture of how many students are in our schools, where they are located and the level of support they are already receiving.”

Other measures introduced by the Gillard Government include the $220 million Helping Children With Autism initiative, the $147 million Better Start for Children with Disability program and the creation last year of a new Schools Disability Advisory Council.