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Source: ONE News -
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The government has come under fire at a Wellington conference about disabled students' education.
Many parents of special needs students believe they are not getting the education they are entitled to at their local schools.
And more than a year after a complaint was filed with the Human Rights Commission, they are calling for urgent action.
Ursula and Rowan Cranmer are just two of hundreds of parents at the conference who feel the education system is failing special needs children.
"The system in the classroom was not at all directed towards his needs, and it had a horrible negative impact on his health," says Ursula.
Her six month battle to get the school to cater to her son's needs ended with the former teacher being given a trespass order.
"Treating us like a criminal when in fact we hadn't done anything wrong, and all we were doing was trying to assist and help sort the problem out so we could get on with our own busy life," she says.
The Education Act says every child has the right to attend their local school, but many parents of special needs students believe that is not a realistic choice because their children face discrimination.
That prompted the IHC to file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission in July last year, covering 142 families.
Last month the government said it will review its policies but disability groups want immediate action.
International experts agree.
"These issues are really urgent and they're damaging people on a day to day basis. So it is very, very serious and yes, I'm concerned about New Zealand," says Inclusive Education Expert, Dr Roger Slee.
The government promises to use extra education funding in this year's budget.
"We're going to be announcing soon that some of that money will be in place for the start of the 2010 year so that more students will have access to funding that they need to provide them with the educational opportunities they deserve," says Associate Minister of Education Heather Roy.
Funding that can't come soon enough for parents like the Cranmers.
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