Page 11 - Community Living Magazine 35-3

inclusion
Schools that start segregated lives

Special needs education separates children from peers, leads to human so, unconsciously, their full
limited adult lives and will persist as long as those with cognitive humanity is not accepted – even,
sometimes, by other disability activists
impairment are seen as not fully human, argues Chris Goodey and advocates.
When the Equality and Human Rights
Commission endorsed the inclusive
education clause in the United Nations’
Declaration on the Rights of the Disabled
Person, it added a rider: for children “with
very severe learning disabilities this is
neither possible nor appropriate”. Yet the
United Nations defines “rights” as inherent
in being human. Put two and two together.
The big organisations – Mencap, the
Down’s Syndrome Association, the Council
for Disabled Children, IPSEA (Independent
Provider of Special Education Advice) –
bottle out, afraid of antagonising parents
already in the system.
The fact is, however, that most parents
Special and set apart: many disability charities and adult advocates do not call for inclusive education do not favour segregated schools. At best,
such schools may be sort of all right. At
ne hundred and twenty thousand “Surely it needs planning.” So does worst, they are neglectful or even abusive.
people with learning disabilities cooking an egg. “Surely there must be It is no fault of parents that they are
Oin this country are still being some children who it won’t suit.” Then unaware of the possibilities.
placed in segregated institutions. A the system is not inclusive. “Surely such a
huge overestimate? big overall change needs to be phased in.” Hostility to parents
Not if children are people. Not if the Then it won’t happen. Parents who get as far as the door of an
institutions concerned are schools. And Teachers given a lead have been fine ordinary school will meet hostile school
not if the word for segregated is “special”. with year 11 classes where young people managers. Who wants that when from
The Valuing People policy of inclusion who are going on to become doctors or your child’s birth you have been sensitised
and ordinary lives, now (in theory) psychologists are educated alongside to the negative attitudes of professionals,
acceptable for the adult 70% of people, is someone with severe learning disabilities. such as the paediatrician who gave you
still being denied to the younger remainder At the root here is often just the grit of the diagnosis? If parents were offered a
who are in special schools. And segregated an individual parent, the understanding of local school where inclusion worked, how
childhoods lead to restricted adult lives. an occasional headteacher or affirmative many would refuse it?
The Children and Families Act 2014 action from an isolated local authority. Even adult advocates seem reluctant to
makes a presumption in favour of inclusive Your chance of being in a segregated engage with inclusive education. Why?
education, saying it is a matter of parental school if you live in Torbay, Devon, is an Because we are all reluctant to see
choice. These are weasel words. Are you in astonishing 11 times more than if you live children as complete human beings – all
any position to have your choice accepted? in the borough of Newham in east children, not just those with disabilities.
The government has tendered for new London. If one can do it, they all can. Psychologists have foisted the idea of
segregated schools. Most ordinary schools Authorities are funded across the board “developmental stages” on us. Young
are resistant to taking children with learning for special needs and can allocate this children who have not yet reached them
disabilities. Most local authorities are money how they like. They are also legally and adults who never will are seen as
indifferent. An equality tribunal will usually in control of special needs provision in equivalent. Development is not the only
support you for an ordinary school place their local free schools and academies. way of describing human beings. It is not
– if you get that far. Mostly, you won’t. So: no excuses. The problem is at the a science. Our ancestors got by without
The top rank of civil servants and top: lack of leadership. Doing it is not the idea. We will get nowhere until we
politicians is awash with people who, being hard. Wanting it is. recognise that children – children in
privately educated themselves, went to Where might pressure come from? general – are people.
segregated schools that denied them access Pressure groups about inclusive education A new learning disability policy is
to normal role models. In my experience of deal with all disabilities and other needed. But it must run from 0-99.
lobbying such people, they are laughing inequalities generally. This is understandable Otherwise, there is no point. “Ordinary
inside at the absurdity of the idea of these but a general learning disability policy is of lives” means ordinary schools. n
Christy Lawrance In the occasional school or classroom learning disabilities are last in the queue. Chris Goodey has a daughter with severe
no help since, in practice, people with
children being in mainstream classes.
If this is so, it is out of sheer ignorance.
Why is this? Because the prevailing view learning disabilities and writes about the
where it does happen, it happens easily.
is that cognitive ability is what makes us
history of ableist attitudes. t @cfgoodey
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 35 No 3 | Spring 2022 11