Tories seek to end inclusion of students with disabilities

Britain’s Conservative Party wants to see an end to the government’s policy of including children with special needs in mainstream schools, a party working group has recommended. Officials said children should be returned to “special schools” to restore parent confidence and provide better service to vulnerable students.

Said Sir Bob Balchin, the committee’s chair:

“The government’s policy of ‘inclusion’ - closing special schools and sending large numbers of children with special education needs to mainstream schools - has caused great distress.

“This is why we need to recreate many more special school places. Many parents of special needs children have lost confidence in the statementing process and our policies aim to put this right.”

Law grants new rights to European travelers with disabilities

The BBC reports that a new law passed by the European parliament will improve air travel for people with disabilities. Under the new rules, airlines will no loger be able to refuse to fly people because they have disabilities.

In China, children with disabilities are sold into slavery

A reporter explores the sale of children, often disabled, to work as beggars on the streets in China. The news follows stories earlier this summer about slave laborers, again often people with disabilities, who are forced to work in Chinese brick factories. How will these people be affected next year when Beijing hosts both the Olympics and Paralympics? From the (UK) Observer.