This paper will examine how a child with a disability or with special needs is affected in life. This paper will take the form of a case study about a child who has Down syndrome. A definition of Disability is " a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day to day activities." (Disability Discrimination act 1995). Special needs as defined by the law is " ... that a child has special educational needs if he or she has a greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of the same age, or has a disability which makes it difficult for the child to use the same facilities as other children." The case study will be particularly focused her experiences within the education system, and what help she receives within her school. The assignment will show what legislation is relevant to the child, including the Children Act 1989 and the Education Act 1993. Children's rights will be examined and shown whether

The new term of 'special educational needs' was established by legislation in 1981, both in England, Wales and in Scotland. "A child is considered to have special needs if she or he has a lear

The education of children with special needs and disabilities is an important issue and while it is necessary for the government to ensure that such children have their needs adequately met, this must be done it such a way that rather than blanket legislation being set, that both children's and parents rights are adequately met on an individual basis. As this paper has shown children are often discriminated against by the very procedures that were set up to help them. For example, a small study will a sample of twenty nine children found that children saw the assessments that were carried out before they were given a statement as, "negative and passive processes, with professionals defining their faults and problems". ( Galloway et al. 1994). In relation to Margaret wanting Rachel to be placed in a special school the Department for education, does in fact support this as is shown by the following quote. "Children with special needs, including children with special educational needs, should, where appropriate and taking into account the wishes of their parents, be educated alongside their peers in mainstream schools." (DFE, 1994) cited in Wilson 1998.

The third approach is the social model, which is the most appropriate viewpoint to have. Rachel and her mother would support this view themselves. The social models states that everyone has the same rights to opportunities and equal treatment regardless of the individual differences that people may have.

Statmenting process does not support children's rights because ... A child with a disability is covered by the children Act 1989 as a child in need 2.3 section 17 (10) defines a child in need as b) his health or development is likely to be significantly impaired, or further impaired, without the provision for him of such services; or c) he is disabled.

Although at first thought it may seem obvious that a special school would be the obvious and most appropriate choice for a child with special needs, this is not necessarily always the case. If a child with a disability attends a special school then at a very young age she may feel isolated from the rest of society and singled out as different. A child with a disability will almost certainly feel different from their peers and sending them to a special school may reinforce negative beliefs that they are not as good as other children. Also when a child leaves school, if they have been surrounded by other disabled and special needs children, they will find it difficult to adjust back into normal society on reaching adulthood. Children who attended special school may also learn behaviour from friends and they may not have the same challenges and motivation to do well as they would in a mainstream school. "Both the Children Act 1989 and the Education Act 1981 place emphasis upon the importance of integration within mainstream provision for children with special needs wherever possible."

Some common words found in the essay are:
Margaret Catholic, UN Convention, Education Act, Statement LEA, Nations Convention, United Kingdom, Finally Rachel, Disability Discrimination, Margaret Rachel, , special school, child disability, children special, special educational, mainstream school, child syndrome, rights child, children act 1989, education act, education authority, children's rights, act 1989 education, education authority lea, local education authority, child special educational,
Approximate Word count = 2183
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)