APPENDIX 5
Memorandum from the Down's Syndrome Association
I would like to thank the Committee for seeking
information from the DSA with regards to special needs education
and public expenditure.
Unfortunately due to the specific nature of
your enquiries the Association is unable to respond to the majority
of the questions.
As a parent Association we can confirm that
education is a major concern for many of our parents. We are aware
of problems with regard to delays in assessment and statementing
in certain Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland. This
does vary between Boards.
Our parents would also be concerned that their
child with Down's syndrome is seen as one of a group rather than
being assessed and provided for as an individual. We would like
to see provision specified clearly in the children's Statement
of Special Education Needs so that the parent is quite clear about
the provision which their child will receive thereby negating
the need for costly and time consuming meetings and ultimately
appeal to the Special Education Needs Tribunal.
25 March 1998
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