Ms Rebecca Meehan:

From the perspective of how to empower someone as a parent or advocate, Ms Cahill mentioned how she applied to and got rejected from 60 schools. I applied to one school. I chose the nearest special school to where my son was going and I decided that was where he was going. As his parent, that was my legal right as his first educator under the Education Act, so that is exactly what I did. I campaigned tirelessly for the last six months. I am hoping that will not occur for the parents coming after me next year thanks to changes made by this committee and the Department.. The onus is on me as a parent. I am his mother, so I will make that choice for him. I will stop at nothing until he gets what he needs. Every parent needs to have the same mindset. We do not all have the same opportunity or experience. I am really grateful for that today, even here, but it is a legal right. We are already empowered as parents under the Constitution.