Changing the law affecting disabled people in education

The Commission has a duty to review the law and make recommendations for improvement.  Under our current proposals for changing the law (pdf, 2012), we recommend to Government a change in the law to bring protection against discrimination and harassment for disabled pupils at school into line with the better-protected students in further and higher education.

We also recommend that schools should have a duty to provide auxiliary aids or services to disabled pupils who do not have special educational needs but do need extra equipment or support, such as an adapted computer keyboard.

Equality Law for education providers

Northern Ireland has a number of anti-discrimination laws that protect people in education.

Education providers also have duties placed upon them by SENDO (Special Educational Needs and Disability Order 2005) and other legislation.
 

• New legislation putting the views of children at the centre of Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision passed by the NI Assembly (26 Jan '16)
• Special Educational Needs and Disability Order (SENDO legislation page)
• Every Child an Equal Child – Commission Statement on Key Inequalities in Education & Strategy for intervention (pdf, 2008)

Advising government
 

• See our responses to consultations on education and disability.