This footage contains outdated views and opinions.
Jill Cochrane guides the discussion surrounding the new legislation which gives statuary rights for education to children with disabilities, while taking questions from the live audience.
Parents and educators within the audience are concerned with what the new legislation means for their children/pupils and wonder if it means more transfers to mainstream education.
Kay Murphy (Principal Glenravel Special Care School) David Mehaffey (Principal, Fleming Fulton School, Kevin Campbell (Principal Ed. Psychologist N.E.E.L.B.) and Christine O’Hanlon (University of Ulster) make up the panel and respond to these questions whilst putting across their own opinion.
Murphy is clear when stating that the new legislation provides schools with additional resources such as an increased staff to pupil ratio. However, Mehaffey doubts that there will be significant change in the number of children with special educational needs transferring to mainstream education. On a positive note, the resources available will help teachers from mainstream schools prepare adequately for children with additional needs.