Croydon Special Developmental School: Danielle Phelps’ fight for Jourbet syndrome daughters

Bayswater North sisters with a severe disability could be forced out of a Croydon special school because of their age. But their mum reckons the move could be life threatening.

Danielle Phelps claims she's been harassed by the Education Department to move her disabled children Jordyn, 21 (left) and Juliana, 18 (right) to another school. Picture: Kiel Egging.

A single mother of two daughters with a condition affecting just 50 children worldwide claims the Department of Education is harassing her to move them out of school, which she fears will have deadly consequences.

Bayswater North’s Danielle Phelps said the department’s alleged demands to discuss the future of her daughters Jordyn, 21, and Juliana, 18, contributed to her being admitted to hospital because of the pressure and stress.

The sisters have a rare genetic disorder, Joubert syndrome, which leaves them dependant on carers and unable to talk.

Ms Phelps said the department was refusing to grant an exemption to let older sister Jordyn stay at Croydon Special Developmental School with her sister.

Victorian legislation does not allow anyone aged over 21 years to enrol at a government school unless they are granted an exemption from the department or fall within its guidelines.

Jordyn received exemptions for the past three years, but Ms Phelps fears the department will also force Juliana out to keep the pair together.

The effects of the girls’ condition include severe developmental delays and intellectual disabilities.

The girls also experience epilepsy, blindness, seizures, asthma attacks, hip problems, infections and commit self-harm.

“They are like babies … and a change like this could be life threatening,” Ms Phelps said.

“They need to be in familiar surroundings, and they (the department) are not even acknowledging what the risk factors to the girls and myself are.

“They have no worries about my mental health at all and what’s happening.”

Documents seen by Leader show Ms Phelps previously received support from doctors and specialists recommending her daughters stay at the Croydon school.

Ms Phelps said the school contacted her with demands from the department to organise a transition meeting during Melbourne’s coronavirus lockdown, when it was unsafe for them to leave the house.

She said she had last heard from the department in June when talks broke down.

Bayswater North's Dani Phelps says she fears for the health of her daughters. Picture: Kiel Egging

“They are disregarding everything medically,” she said.

“My girls don’t have voices, it’s bullying and discrimination at its finest, and I know if my children could talk, they would want to stay at that school.”

Ms Phelps contacted Education Minister James Merlino’s office requesting a conversation in June but was referred back to the department in a letter sent in August.

“He’s just dismissed me like I’m invisible and my girls are invisible,” she said.

Department spokesman Michael Courts said it was “unlawful” for an exemption to be granted once a person is over 21 years of age.

Mr Courts said the government had made extra support available for disabled students to transfer to post-school options.

“The school and department will continue to work with the family on legally available options and post-school pathways planning,” he said.

Mr Merlino’s office and the school did not directly respond to Leader’s questions.

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