Disability survey continues

Having a choice of schools to attend is not always a reality for high-needs special education pupils and CCS Disability Action wants to find out how widespread the problem is.

The organisation began a survey late last year looking at the choices parents and families have when their disabled child starts school or needs to change schools.

Five families were interviewed in the first phase, which produced surprising results.

Information manager Michelle Hill said the families had "unusual stories that we were not quite expecting".

"There were a couple of families who talked about having to physically move their whole family to find a school," she said.

All of them reported having a "general dissatisfaction with the whole experience" and that the teachers lacked interest or expertise to help their child.

The "really important" research has now entered an extended phase, with families invited to fill in an online survey or a physical one from a CCS branch.

It is targeting people who have applied, successfully or not, for ongoing and reviewable resourcing schemes (ORRS) funding under the criteria of "learning" or "language use and social communication".

"It's really looking at do people have choice, or is it all about 'will they take my child'?"

A "couple of hundred" responses had been received so far and Ms Hill anticipated the analysis would reveal national or regional trends.

The results would be shared with the Government and she hoped a website or brochure would be produced to help families make choices about schooling.

The survey closes on June 3.

For more information, visit www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz.

ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz

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