Federal NDIS Minister Bill Shorten doesn't accept all students in special schools are "doing it bad" despite disability advocates calling for them to be phased out.
In response to the Disability Royal Commission's recommendation that special schools be phased by out by the end of 2051, the commonwealth and the states and territories noted it, but did not commit to implementing it.
The inquiry's two commissioners who live with a disability, wrote as part of their recommendation that segregated education was incompatible with inclusive education.
But the commissioners were split on this issue, with half recommending that new special schools be located near existing mainstream schools and for partnerships between the two to be created to provide regular contact between both groups of students.
Asked about the disappointment expressed by disability advocates at the government's response, Mr Shorten backed families having a choice in deciding whether the mainstream system was best for their child.
"I don't necessarily accept that everyone in special schools is doing it bad," he told the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday.
"If you were just to take everyone at a special school now and take them to their local high school or primary school, you're just kidding yourself. It's not going to happen.
"Some of the debate and some of the rhetoric, does underestimate the contribution of kids, but also their parents to special needs Ed and the teachers who work in those systems."
The Commonwealth accepted or accepted in-principle 130 recommendations out of 222.
Only 13 recommendations were accepted in full.
Disability advocates said they were devastated by the lack of government commitment to the inquiry's findings.
