In a groundbreaking move, the Tenambit Primary School in regional New South Wales has established the first Deafblind class in an Australian public school, thanks to the relentless advocacy of a mother, Jamie Bennett. After a two-year battle to secure her son Ari, who is both Deaf and blind, the necessary support, the school has undergone upgrades to better accommodate students with disabilities, including the hiring of additional staff fluent in Auslan. This significant change aims to create an inclusive educational environment, which has been lacking in schools across Australia.

Ari Bennett, at just four years old, interacts with his environment through touch and is learning in innovative ways that suit his unique needs. By employing techniques such as reading books through raised pictures and receiving instructions via tactile signs formed by his teacher, Ari's school experience is tailored to his learning style. His mother's determination not only emphasizes the necessity for specialized support for children with disabilities but also highlights a systemic issue where parents are often left to fight for resources and inclusion for their children, a situation that advocates argue should not be the case.

This milestone not only provides Ari with the necessary resources to thrive in school but also sets a precedent for other schools to follow, potentially inspiring a broader movement across Australia for inclusive education. The establishment of the Deafblind class at Tenambit Primary could serve as a model for addressing the needs of children with disabilities nationwide, emphasizing that access to education is a fundamental right that all children should enjoy without the burden of their parents having to advocate tirelessly for it.