Disability Inclusion at Concord School

Disability Inclusion Profile (DIP) meetings are an in-depth discussion about the supports and adjustments we have in place for your child at school. These meetings bring together teachers, families and meeting facilitators to talk through what is working well and celebrate who your child is and what they have achieved. There are many different types of supports and adjustments that can be part of this conversation, and one of these is called Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

AAC is a way of helping people who find it hard to speak or be understood to share their thoughts, needs, and feelings. Instead of using spoken words, a person can use tools like picture boards, sign language, or special apps on a tablet or computer that speak out loud for them. AAC can help students with disabilities that affect speech. It gives them another way to communicate, so they can join in conversations, ask for help, make choices, and connect with the people around them.

Some students who can speak may still find it hard to communicate clearly, stay on topic, or find the right words — and AAC can support these students too, giving them an extra tool to help get their message across more easily. When the adults around a student use AAC themselves — pointing to pictures or symbols while they talk — it teaches the student new words and language, shows them how to use it, and helps them learn that AAC is a normal and valued way to communicate.

DIP meetings happen regularly at our school. To find out more, you can watch a short video on the Department of Education website.

There are also some easy-to-read resources you can look at — one explains the Disability Inclusion Profile (PDF) and the other tells you more about what happens at the meeting (PDF).

If you have any questions, we would love to hear from you. You can call the school at the Bundoora campus Monday to Friday and ask to speak with Rachael Macmillan, our Disability Inclusion Leader, or email Rachael.Macmillan@education.vic.gov.au. You can also contact Stacey Bilchouris, our Disability Inclusion Learning Specialist, by phone at the Bundoora campus on Tuesdays and Fridays, or by email at Stacey.Bilchouris@education.vic.gov.au.

Rachael Macmillan

Disability Inclusion Leader