Blind and partially sighted students get fair deal

Blind and partially sighted students get a fair deal

Blind and partially sighted students will receive a better deal as a result of the Government’s response to the Ministry of Education’s Review of Special Education, ‘Success for All – Every School, Every Child’.

The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) is thrilled to receive such positive support from the Government for its commitment to special education as a result of the review.

RNZFB Chief Executive, Sandra Budd, says, “The Review of Special Education will make a positive and practical difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted students in the classroom. This is the next step to achieving a fully inclusive education system”.

The RNZFB provided input into a joint submission on the review, which reflected the voice of the collective blindness education sector.

RNZFB Executive Director for Direct Client Contact Services, Teresa Bradfield, says this is an outstanding example of how we’re working closely in partnership with the blindness sector.

“It’s fantastic that we’ve been able to share expertise and resources, as well as maximise impact for blind and partially sighted children. The joint submission was obviously well received, and we’re delighted with the results,” Teresa Bradfield says.

Education for blind and partially sighted students has taken on many forms over the years: “From providing specialist education for blind and partially sighted students’ at the RNZFB’s Parnell buildings, and later at Homai School in Manurewa, the RNZFB is now working closely with the Blind and Low Vision Network of New Zealand (BLENNZ) and focusing on how to support students in transition to tertiary education,” Teresa Bradfield says.

This year, the RNZFB celebrates 120 years of service as part of its annual Blind Week appeal and takes a look back on its milestones.

“Our anniversary is a great time to recognise the huge steps we’ve made to support blind and partially sighted New Zealanders over the years. It also highlights the need to continue providing these essential services well into the future,” Sandra Budd says.

Positive outcomes from the Review of Special Education include:

• Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Schemes (ORRS) specialist funding for blind and partially sighted students will now go directly to BLENNZ rather than individual schools, so BLENNZ can increase resource teacher numbers and provide more vision-specific support.
• ORRS will be extended to 1100 additional students, which is likely to include more blind and partially sighted students.
• The focus is on inclusion rather than ‘special’ services, which is consistent with the social model of disability and United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Teachers and schools will be supported towards inclusive practice with the aim that 80% of schools will be fully inclusive by 2014.

ENDS

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