For disabled students to have a choice in their education

I have been reading the 'Reclaiming Our Futures: Draft UK Disabled People’s Manifesto' consultation And whilst it’s mostly a good piece with many of the areas covered I would just like to point out one omission and where my views differ in terms of policy for disabled people. I am myself registered blind but haven’t always been. I lost my sight aged 16 through ha rare genetic disease which affected my optic nerve. I did attend mainstream school for most of my schooling life when I could still see and spent the last year of 6th form struggling by and trying to complete my education whilst trying to cope with a fairly quick sight loss. I am With Ben Golightly http://m.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inclusionlondon.co.uk%2FAnnouncing-Reclaiming-Our-Futures-Manifesto&h=kAQHDVMdO&s=1 Also a member of the socialist party who is finding the demand for a fully inclusive mainstream system of education problematic on various levels. For myself who attended both mainstream for a time and specialist education at the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford for a few years. I experienced both sides of the coin if you like and I personally found being in a specialist environment really beneficial to myself in terms of independence and progression in life too. There are skills I have learnt away at Hereford I would not have been able to get in mainstream education. I personally feel as a socialist and a disabled rights campaigner that there should always be the choice for people if you felt mainstream was where you would be better suited then all necessary adjustments and provisions should be made available to you to complete your education fully to the best of your ability. Likewise if you feel mainstream education which can be very full on and intense for many with big class's and a heavy work load with all the pressures it comes with isn’t for you then specialist education is a must and is something that should be continued to be being funded. During my time at RNCB there were cuts going on all over the place with the Learning and Skills Council effectively disappearing in place your local authority would have to decide if to fund you to travel out of county to a residential specialist school. This as we well know was becoming harder and harder with budget cuts meaning colleges like mine were facing a very uncertain future. I think this is desperate and much awareness needs to be raised on this. Hereford College for the blind for example taught me many things and was I stand by a vital part of what I am today. The people I met the experiences I had the skills I learnt are all hugely important to the person I am today. I am lucky I had the chance to learn away from home in a relaxed atmosphere the education but also the daily living skills including basic cooking, washing and personal hygiene etc. I also received much needed mobility training to gain confidence to use public transport and navigate using a white cane which I was not so familiar with before attending college. The consultation is a good one I may submit this piece but Ben has already covered a lot of what I put I would just be coming from a blind persons perspective. As a disabled person choice matters and having the option to choose what meets your needs the best is something we should promote and encourage. Labeling and boxing people into categories and education systems which may not suit them is a sad state of affairs. The choice to be supported in mainstream with the necessary funding is as important as maintaining and up keeping specialist education for disabled people today and in the years to come.

A personal responce from Ed Balls MP

Hi there a week or so ago i recieved a email from one of Ed balls's team about my question on blind and visually impaired issues well today i have just been sent a personal email from the man himself. I'd like to thank him personally as not often you get a top MP taking time out to answer your question personally. I had already voted for Ed in the labour leadership contest, but this just reaffirms my belief that Ed is a man of the people and understanding to all parts of society.

thanks Ed

here is the email he sent me

Dear Mark,


Thank you very much for getting in touch with my campaign, you asked about benefits for the blind and visually impaired, and if there was still a place for specialist schools and colleges, we are sorry that it has taken some time to get back to you.

As SoS, I took a particular interest in issues facing young disabled people and people with SEN. I introduced policies to try and remove barriers that young people face so they could achieve and enjoy life to the full. I believe that young people with visual impairment still face many hurdles in our schools and colleges and in my last few months of office, I was very pleased to secure a late amendment to the Equality Bill which placed a new duty on schools to provide additional aids and services to disabled students in order to assist their learning without the need for an SEN statement. I hope this will eventually be extended to post 16 provision but the Coalition Government has yet to decide whether to do so. The current duty would include young people with visual impairment in schools. On your second point, I believe that young disabled people have a right to access high quality further education and specialist colleges are vital part of the network of provision that currently exists for young disabled people, I support young people going on to further education in both mainstream and specialist colleges and will as part of my campaigning, uphold the right of young people to access the education provision that is most appropriate to their needs.


I hope that this answers your question.

Best wishes,

Ed Balls

Ed balls on specialist education

Hi all and welcome to another blog entry from myself. i emailed Ed balls personally a month or so ago about specialist education. A subject that is dear to my heart as they helped me out a hell of a lot when i lost my sight and needed support. This is the email i recieved just now from Ed's team and why i think he would be such a great advocator of specialist education.

Hi Mark and thanks very much for contacting Ed Balls. I am really sorry for this awfully slow reply, but the truth is we've been inundated with communications of all kinds and we've simply found it impossible to keep on top of them all. As a result we've got a big backlog, so there's nothing personal in us replying so slowly to you!

As you probably know, Ed was extremely interested in issues to do with disabled children and young people when he was Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, and he took a keen issue in SEN. I understand that his view is that there is a place for special schools within the education system, within a broader policy to support inclusion. He has met too many young disabled children and young people, and parents, to think there is a single ideological answer to how best to meet their educational needs, and is a strong supporter of there being enough diversity in the system so that children and parents who want to choose a special school, are able to do so.

I hope this answers your question Mark.

Thanks again for contacting Ed and sorry again we've been so slow replying.

All the best,

Caroline Abrahams