Special-needs pupil’s needs ‘not met’ at school

A Christchurch family believes a policy to mainstream education for special-needs children is fraught after advocacy for their son ended in his ‘‘de-facto expulsion’’.

Phil Dobson said Merrin School dismissed his 6-year-old son Alex’s physical needs as irrelevant to his education.

Principal Lisa Dillon-Roberts said the Avonhead school could care for Alex, but was ‘‘not able to meet the Dobsons’ needs’’.

Alex has L1Cam syndrome, a condition similar to cerebral palsy. He had three brain surgeries within two months of being born and uses a walker, Dobson said.

The family was assured Merrin could accommodate Alex under the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS) – a support package for special-needs children attending mainstream schools – in September 2015, but Dobson said issues became apparent early on.

Initially, the only disabled toilet was in the sick bay. Alex’s routine was changed without the family’s knowledge, reducing opportunities for his physical development and the school said it could not transport him to off-site activities.

‘‘Our input appeared to be regarded as interference . . . When we raised several issues with the principal, her email reply effectively put our son’s needs in the too-hard basket,’’ Dobson said.

In June, Dillon-Roberts wrote that the school would not revisit concerns ‘‘which have no relevance to a child’s educational needs’’.

‘‘Mainstreaming is a complex, demanding and rewarding pathway for families. However, it is not for all . . . Good luck.’’

Dobson considered the letter a ‘‘de-facto expulsion’’ and withdrew Alex from the school.

Dillon-Roberts and board chair Mirjam Phillips said an independent consultant found the school had ‘‘at all times acted appropriately and in good faith with Alex Dobson’s needs at the forefront’’.

Dobson believed the board’s approach absolved Dillon-Roberts and ignored that his family was treated with ‘‘indifference bordering on contempt’’. He feared the Ministry of Education’s inclusion policy was ‘‘a lottery depending on [schools’] management’’.

‘‘On the one hand the Government is shepherding people towards mainstreaming, but the cavalier approach of the principal has had a large bearing on the success of that policy.

‘‘[Alex] had the indignity of being changed in a corridor filled with football flags and mud. There has been very little accountability for the way people have trivialised his needs.’’

Special-needs charity Smile Dial chief executive Kelly Dugan said there were ‘‘a hundred thousand stories like this’’.

Many families received as few as two hours’ teaching support a week through ORS and schools often lacked the resources – or will – to provide what was needed. ‘‘You’re dealing with schools, but you’re dealing with individuals within those schools. Sometimes the parents’ expectations need to drop and the schools need to do a bit more.’’

Dobson said parents of special needs children would advocate more than other parents might. ‘‘That advocacy shouldn’t be dismissed as destructive and emotive. It needs to be accepted with empathy and purpose.’’

Alex now attends Waitaha, a special school in Templeton, west of the city.

Ministry deputy secretary Katrina Casey said every child had a legal right to attend thier local school ‘‘irrespective of how complex their learning needs might be’’.