Special Needs Parents Back to Court for "Remedies"

Special Needs Parents Go Back to Court for "Remedies" - Over 140 Affidavits Back the Parents Case -

Next Monday 14th July the 14 parents involved in the long running special needs court case go back to the High Court in Auckland (Courtroom 8 at 10am) to argue for government policy changes through a "remedies hearing".

Earlier this year the Court of Appeal ruled that the government had breached the Education Act by its wholesale dis-establishment of special needs units in the late 1990's and referred the case back to the High Court.

The High Court must decide what steps the government should be required to take to bring its policy in line with the law.

Parents are arguing for the re-establishment of all special needs units which were disestablished unless there is clear evidence that such a facility is no longer needed or wanted by parents. We are also arguing for the establishment of further units in areas where there is a significant demand from parents.

Re-establishment means the government would take back responsibility for the staffing of special needs units as they did prior to 1998.

Over 140 affidavits from parents, teachers, principals and boards of trustee members have come in support of parents in the last few weeks. They tell an often harrowing tale of life under a largely dysfunctional special needs funding regime.

The government has presented 6 affidavits arguing against being required to do anything at all!

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