Concerns raised about lack of inclusion for disabled students

Community organisation CCS Disability Action says more needs to be done to ensure schools are inclusive of students with disabilities.

CCS Disability Action chief executive David Matthews said the Ministry of Education had been working on a number of promising initiatives, including developing inclusive education tools for schools. “Unfortunately, there is little sign of overall progress,” Mr Matthews said.

An example of the organisation’s concern is the number of disabled children on the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme learning by correspondence, which has been increasing over time.

The Ongoing Resourcing Scheme is for disabled students with high or very high needs.

In 2013, disabled students on the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme made up 1.5 per cent of all students learning by correspondence, compared to about one per cent of all students in schools.

Mr Matthews said disabled students often studied by correspondence because they felt unwelcome and excluded at schools, or schools claimed they could not meet their needs.

“We know from our previous research that some students and parents of disabled children felt unwelcome at their local school. Successive ERO reports have been critical of inclusive education in some schools. Too many disabled students do not feel welcome at their local school.”

Mr Matthews said public schools were there to serve all students in their immediate communities.

“Schools need the right attitude and supports to cater for all. We should not leave people behind or exclude them from being with their peers,” he said.