MEDIA RELEASE

1 November 2006

OHS "Easy Way Out" Of Inclusion Say CCS

Inclusion for disabled people is vital and Occupational Health and Safety is being used as an 'easy way out' to exclude disabled people say CCS.

"School and education is a time where a community should be most inclusive and here we have a school deliberately excluding a child from a camp due to his disability. They are telling Ryan, and his parents, that he cannot attend the school camp - a time where all other children are having fun, making new friends and learning new skills. This is particularly disappointing when the parents are willing to assist the school," says Paul Gibson, National Policy Manager, CCS.

CCS, the disability and advocacy group, say they support the parents and their battle with the Board of Trustees and their decision to seek legal advice. It believes that parents, and families of children with disabilities, receive inadequate support from government and would be interested to hear the response of the Minister of Education regarding the Board's decision.

"CCS believes that disabled people should have an opportunity to live an everyday life and seeks to support their basic human rights. By excluding him from something as simple as his school camp, Ryan is not receiving either of these," says Paul Gibson.

ENDS

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