New law helps special needs children

Press Release

Children with special educational needs are to have increased rights to be educated in mainstream schools.

This is a result of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Order (SENDO) which comesinto operation on 1 September 2005. The new law also means Further and Higher Education institutions will have to become more accessible to people with disabilities.

Welcoming the introduction of the new legislation, Education Minister Angela Smith said:

"This represents a significant step forward in promoting inclusion and disability rights within the education sector here and affords Northern Ireland children, young people and adults with special needs or disabilities, the same rights as their counterparts in England, Scotland and Wales.

"£57.8m over three years has been set aside to implement the new law and I look forward to the great benefits such provision will have for society as a whole."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

A total of £57.8m over three years has been set aside to implement the Order. In addition, £23m is to be made available over the same period to support children with Special Educational Needs in mainstream schools including costs arising as a result of SENDO.
The Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Order was the subject of a public consultation from 2 April to 28 June 2004 and received strong support from those who responded. The Order can be viewed online at www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051117.htm

Further information is available from The Equality Commission at www.equalityni.org or on 028 9050 0600.