SPELD NSW has written to NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning, the Hon. Prue Car MP, in response to the NSW Government’s proposed limits on screen use in schools.
SPELD NSW supports reducing unnecessary screen use and ensuring technology is used purposefully in classrooms. Increased opportunities for explicit instruction, reading and handwriting will benefit many students.
However, the new limits must be implemented in a way that protects the rights and learning needs of students with disability.
For students with dyslexia, other Specific Learning Disorders, Developmental Coordination Disorder and related disabilities, technology may be an essential reasonable adjustment. Tools such as text-to-speech, audiobooks, speech-to-text software, word processing and keyboarding can enable students to access written information, participate in classroom activities and demonstrate their knowledge equitably.
For these students, using a device is not unnecessary screen time or simply a learning preference. It is an important means of accessing education.
In its letter, SPELD NSW has called for the implementation of the new screen-use limits to:
- Clearly protect assistive technology and reasonable adjustments
- Allow flexibility based on each student’s disability and individual learning needs
- Provide clear guidance about when screen-use limits should not apply
- Ensure students are not discouraged from using approved adjustments
- Maintain equitable access to classroom learning, assessment and the broader curriculum
Reducing unnecessary screen use is a worthwhile goal, but it must not come at the cost of access, participation or educational equity for students with disability.
