LANE NICHOLS

 

KENT BLECHYNDEN/Fairfax NZ

DIFFICULT STRUGGLE: Vanessa O’Sullivan with her two sons, James, 9, and Trent, 12. The boys are autistic and James also has intellectual disabilities and needs more teacher aide hours to learn at school. Mrs O’Sullivan raised $10,000 to get James an assistance dog called Andy.

Human Rights Commission lawyers have agreed to take up a complaint alleging that state schools are discriminating against thousands of disabled pupils.

The rare step is a significant milestone as IHC seeks a declaration that the Education Ministry and schools are treating intellectually and physically impaired pupils unlawfully.

If IHC is successful, the Government could be found in breach of the Human Rights Act and face orders for compensation.

It is nearly four years since the complaint was first lodged with the commission. The stage is now set for years more legal action and appeals.

IHC claims the state education system is failing pupils with special needs and illegally denying them the right to an education at their local schools.

Read the rest of this article here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/6558154/Court-fight-looms-over-rights-of-disabled