Residential Special School Closures But Funding Must Follow

For Immediate Release

11 July 2012

Residential Special School Closures Right Aproach But Funding Must Follow


New Zealand’s leading disability services provider today called for mainstream schools to be adequately resourced if the Government presses ahead with the proposed closure of residential special schools.

CCS Disability Action has welcomed the proposals to close the Residential Special Schools with an overwhelming body of evidence suggesting that the future social and educational outcomes for disabled children attending mainstream schools are significantly better than those who attend special facilities.

David Matthews, Chief Executive of CCS Disability Action, said parents of children with disabilities were being forced to make an impossible choice between mainstream education and specialised education at a huge cost to the future of New Zealand’s youth. He believed resistance from schools unions and parents to the changes is misplaced

”We believe that by shifting the resourcing currently tied up in residential and special schooling and creating individual funding packages, teachers and parents concerns can be addressed. As a result, these students will have the best possible chance to become a valued part of their community in the short and long term.

“All parents have big dreams and aspirations for their children, regardless of any barriers they face. Once these children are excluded from school, research suggests that it is very difficult for them reintegrate into society. This segregated life couldn’t be further from the vision these children have for themselves

“I hear the call from parents that special schools have greatly improved the educational outcomes for their children, particularly for those with very high needs. We don’t claim to be experts on all children’s needs, but we believe if mainstream schools were adequately resourced with specialised teachers and resources these outcomes are equally achievable in an inclusive environment.”

He added: “Our organisation regularly sees parents who would like their children to attend their local schools, but the level of support is often inadequate. This leaves parents feeling like there is little choice but to send their child to a special school.

“Special schools are not by their nature local schools, but they are able to a better level of support including specialised trained teachers because they have a better level of resourcing. This is not a fair choice for parents who, after all, simply want the best for their child. They must choose between inadequate support for their child in their community or adequate support in an isolated special school.”

The organisation’s case for the benefits of truly inclusive education is borne out by the experiences of the hundreds of children who CCS support within mainstream schooling, said Mr Matthews.

“We see the incredible impact on children, families and communities every day. We need to move away from the idea that children with a disability can’t contribute, because everyone has something valuable that they can bring to society. For us, this issue reflects our belief that a society that values all people equally enriches the lives of all of us.”

ENDS

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