Vol. 468 No. 4
530 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that parents of children with disabilities need advice and guidance on appropriate assistance for their children; and the plans, if any, she has for addressing this need. [15907/96]
The question of advice and guidance for parents of children with disabilities is appropriate to all professionals dealing with children with disabilities. My Department will continue to provide guidance and advice to parents on the educational needs of their children.
The White Paper on Education, Charting our Education Future, outlines the proposed future strategy for providing suitable education for children with special needs in either special education facilities or in an integrated environment. The fundamental objective of the commitment in the White Paper is to ensure to the maximum possible extent that all children with special needs will have access to suitably resourced education services in their own area and within the ordinary school system. The degree to which integration can be achieved will depend on the specific and evolving capacities of the individual children concerned.
The rights of consultation for parents of children with special needs will continue to be an integral part of this process. The decision-making process, in relation to the placement of a student in an ordinary and/or special school, will be a collaborative one, made by the parents and the professionals involved, with the objective of providing what is best suited to the child's development and needs.
