MEDIA RELEASE
1 November 2006
OHS "Easy Way Out" Of Inclusion Say CCS
Inclusion for disabled people is vital and Occupational Health and Safety is being used as an 'easy way out' to exclude
disabled people say CCS.
"School and education is a time where a community should be most inclusive and here we have a school deliberately
excluding a child from a camp due to his disability. They are telling Ryan, and his parents, that he cannot attend the
school camp - a time where all other children are having fun, making new friends and learning new skills. This is
particularly disappointing when the parents are willing to assist the school," says Paul Gibson, National Policy
Manager, CCS.
CCS, the disability and advocacy group, say they support the parents and their battle with the Board of Trustees and
their decision to seek legal advice. It believes that parents, and families of children with disabilities, receive
inadequate support from government and would be interested to hear the response of the Minister of Education regarding
the Board's decision.
"CCS believes that disabled people should have an opportunity to live an everyday life and seeks to support their basic
human rights. By excluding him from something as simple as his school camp, Ryan is not receiving either of these," says
Paul Gibson.
ENDS