Tasmanian Disability Education Reform Lobby hosts disability education forum with Jeremy Rockliff, Michelle O'Byrne and Andrea Dawkins

Hosted by the Tasmanian Disability Education Reform Lobby, the forum will place Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff, Opposition education spokeswoman Michelle O’Byrne, and Greens education spokeswoman Andrea Dawkins on-stage to discuss their disability education policies.

TDERL founder Kristen Desmond said each of the three leaders would have a 10-minute speech to lay out their disability education policies, before the floor would be opened to audience questions.

Ms Desmond said she expected to see questions asked about funding figures and transparency, the practical application of legislation in schools, and inclusive education.

The forum is the only scheduled appearance for all three state education leaders before the state election on March 3.

“They were all very accommodating and … very willing to be there, which I think is a very good sign for parent and students with a disability,” Ms Desmond said.

“We’re really hoping that they’re going to focus on the policy going forward.

“It’s a really good opportunity for people to put questions to them and for them to understand the issues that are being faced.”

Ms Desmond said disability education had “come a long way” over the past four years but there was still plenty to do, and the forum would give all the education leaders a chance to listen to parents about priorities in the disability education sector.

“We need all sides of politics to understand the importance of continuing the path that we’ve started,” she said.

In November last year Mr Rockliff announced the state government would transition to a needs-based funding model for students with a disability, scrapping the long-standing and outdated IQ-based model.

The free, public forum will be held at the Tailrace Centre on February 19, from 5.45pm.