Disability employment, education and NDIS support

Disability employment and education can involve different questions at different stages of life. You might be helping a child settle into school, considering further study or exploring employment support. Access, expectations and the right assistance all influence how those opportunities work in practice.

This collection explores education and employment through guides, personal experiences and perspectives on inclusion. Articles consider learning environments, tutoring, school-leaver transitions and the experience of being recognised for your abilities at work. They offer questions to take into conversations with schools, training providers and employers.

Think about the activity and the barriers involved. Do you need information in another format, a change to how a task is organised or help preparing for a new routine? Describe what makes participation difficult and what has helped before. Clear examples can make a discussion about access and support more practical.

Families and carers can support preparation while making space for the person's own interests. For young people, a transition plan should consider what they want to try and how they will be involved in decisions. Adults returning to study or employment may bring useful strategies and experience that deserve recognition.

NDIS supports sit alongside the responsibilities of education providers, employers and other services. The NDIA's guidance explains the distinction between disability-related support and assistance that belongs within the education system. A tutor, course fee or workplace expense is not automatically funded because it supports a goal in an NDIS plan.

Ask each organisation what support it provides and who is responsible for arranging it. Understanding those roles can help prevent an important need being passed between services without an answer.

Browse these articles for ideas, questions and perspectives you can use in your own situation. Learning and working well involve more than attending a place; they also involve belonging, useful adjustments and opportunities to contribute in ways that matter to you.