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Students living with disability
A recent survey* conducted by Mission Australia highlights how the experiences of young people with a disability differ to young people living without disability. Topics included inclusion, issues of personal concern and post-school plans. Here, we look at how some of their responses compare.
Engagement in education
Experiences of bullying
Top 5 personal concerns*
Community inclusion
Source: Hall, S., Fildes, J., Liyanarachchi, D., Plummer, J. and Reynolds, M. (2020) Young, Willing and Able - Youth Survey Disability Report 2019. Mission Australia: Sydney, NSW.
Updated November 2020.
Students with disability Students without disability
Not planning to complete Year 12
3.8%
8.2%
Post-school plan includes going to university
48.3%
66.1%
Are 'slightly' or 'not at all' confident about achieving their post-school goals
10.5%
18.3%
Feel their community are supportive of people
living with disability
Experienced
physical bullying Experienced
cyberbullying 19.5%
34.1%
35.7%
42.0%
Experienced
bullying at home Experienced bullying in their neighbourhood 16.5%
27.9%
5.1%
15.1%
Feel people with a disability are treated unfairly because of it
Their disability makes it hard to feel like they fit in (at
school, work or socially)
Their disability makes it hard to do everyday activities as people their age usually do 67.8%
83.3%
61.8%
49.5%
47.8%
Coping with stress Mental health School/study problems Body image Physical health
* Respondents who indicated they were either extremely or very concerned about these issues
55.0%
49.9%
44.5%
45.5%
32.4%
39.3%
34.0%
33.9%
31.1%
30.8%
24.7%
* Responses were received from 25 000 people aged 15-19, and 1623 of these reported living with a disability.
Of the young people who indicated they experienced bullying in the last 12 months:
