Teen living with cerebral palsy banned from using laptop for school exams
A 16-year-old girl living with cerebral palsy is urging the NSW Education Standards Authority to stand by its claims of inclusivity, after it rejected her request to use a laptop during her HSC exams.
Layla is vision impaired and lives with cerebral palsy, which impacts how she can use her arms and legs.
The 16-year-old said it was painful for her to write, and she was worried markers wouldn't be able to understand what she put on paper.
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The 16-year-old said it was painful for her to write, and she was worried markers wouldn't be able to understand what she put on paper. Nine
"In writing, it would take me longer to write than the average person, and my writing would be more illegible or harder to read," she said
"Throughout my time at school I've been using my laptop for all of my assessments."
Layla will sit her HSC Exams in just a matter of weeks, but NESA has banned her from using her laptop in the exams.
Layla hopes to study law when she graduates school next year.
But she's worried she won't get the marks unless she can do her exams the only way she knows how, on a laptop.
Layla is vision impaired and lives with cerebral palsy, which impacts how she can use her arms and legs. Nine
"I think my message to NESA is if you're going to say you're inclusive, live by it, because you're knocking people with disabilities back and that's why so many people who are disabled are dropping out of school," Layla said.
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