My experience as a child going into the school system
I learnt of three schools in that are currently being sued by families for refusing pupils with disabilities to attend their schools. They were being supported by the Equality Commission on these cases and the families agreed to settlements against Wallace High School in Lisburn, Lislagan Primary School, Ballymoney and St Brigid’s College in Derry.
The Education Authority has identified the schools as suitable for the children with disabilities, but The Special Educational Needs and Disability tribunal heard that the schools refused to accept the disabled children as pupils.
The schools have apologised the children and their families. Wallace High School and St Brigid’s College have admitted that their actions did not meet the with the disability discrimination law.
One parent said she was made to feel uncomfortable and was told by one of the schools, “why this school?” and that there were “other schools.”
This has made me reflective coming through the Primary and Secondary School education system in the Western Education and Library Board in Co. Tyrone. I was extremely luckily, as each of the schools were compassionate and welcomed me to their school.
Before going to Primary School, there was a few queries as to whether I would be ok in the mainstream education system. Thankfully my parents knew I would and I met all the required assessments. My experiences of primary school education was excellent. I was able to mix with my peers at a young age and they accepted me for me straight away, as were all young. They had questions, I had answers and then we played.
Moving to High School was another scary moment. Could I go? Could I cope? Would the school cope? Again, this school welcomed me with opened arms. Parts of the schools were inaccessible. Majority of my classes where upstairs and there was no disabled toilet on the premise.
The school then built a disabled toilet for me and for any future pupils that may have a disability. As for the classes upstairs, it would have been beyond their means to install an elevator. They purchased a caterpillar track system for my wheelchair to attach to, that would take me up the staircase.
I couldn’t have been happier in both schools. Our Lady of Lourdes PS, Greencastle and St. Joseph’s HS, Plumbridge provided me with a great education, great interaction with other people my age and laid the foundations to make me the person I am today. Something of which I am always thankful for.
So it both saddens and angers me to see that other children with disabilities are being denied the same rights to an education like I have been and this is something that shouldn’t be happening in 2017.
Not only was attending these schools good for me as a person, but it was always good for the other pupils in these schools now. It removed any of the sigma or taboos of me as the ‘kid in the wheelchair’. I was Dermot, their name, their equal.
Bernie Drayne’s story as a parent, going into the school system.
Bernie is a member of Facebook Parents of Disabled Children NI and NI Disability Carer’s Group. You can contact her at romadrayne@yahoo.com.
My daughter has the same condition as Dermot and I can also say that she was very well looked after in both primary and grammar school.
Both schools were very supportive and they wanted the best for my daughter who is now studying at University. I will always be grateful for their help during some really challenging times we endured health wise.
For us the problems around this transition at age 11 came from those who should have been there to help us. Our Occupational Therapist was very keen that my daughter attend a school 40 miles away because it had a lift (educational provision didn’t come into her plan!) the Education Board couldn’t provide an educational psychologist, our social worker wasn’t interested and I had to insist on finding another one who was.
We visited many schools in advance of my daughter’s results to assess suitability and accessibility. This was a most depressing experience and it has left a lasting impression. Too often we were escorted around schools through the most inaccessible areas, we were led through corridors with steps and stairs and the emphasis was constantly on what they could not offer us. One principal suggested my daughter attend a local school where ‘there’s a lift and sure they do everything for ‘them’ now. Another principal told me that building work was ongoing and no place for a wheelchair in the foreseeable future.
This was our experience ten years ago so I’m disappointed to read that this type of discrimination continues. I would be confident that there are many more parents who have been put off by the system and have had to settle for less than second best. And isn’t it ironic that we have a campaign here in NI for integrated education – it most be the only campaign of its kind in the world that completely ignores disability.
Today there are fewer social workers for parents of disabled children, so parents are having to navigate the transition debacle alone. However, thanks to Facebook there are many parental support groups out there sharing advice and tips with parents and helping them through this process.
Policy makers and academics won’t engage with parents thus they are unaware of the problems faced by parents and children. Just last week media headlines read – ‘UK plummets from 11th to 156th in global children’s rights rankings’ – so, who do we blame for this? It’s certainly not parents – it’s those who make policies without consulting parents. There’s a lesson in this isn’t there. Talk to parents, don’t ignore them.