[evelien]

Hi everyone,
We are in a difficult position and hoping some of you can advize us, or maybe have been in the same position.

We live in Holland. We have a 12 year old daughter with learning disabilities. She attends a special school. Her IQ is around 60, so it's fair to say she will never reach a college degree of finish any regular school with a diploma.

She isn't stupid however. She can work with her hands and do not-all-to-complicated tasks. Example: she would be a perfect cleaning lady, dishwasher, help on a farm, looking after kids etc.

We have two major concerns: the first being whether the medical examination will give troubles. The child is completely healthy, but we can't not mention the IQ-thing (or can we???? :eek ) What if they find out later :wah . We will be expelled, our visa revoked --- nightmare

The second point: if our application will not be declined because of our little one we will move to New Zealand. But were can she go to school??? I checked the internet over and over. I can only find a few schools for kids with learning disabilities, and they stop at age 13! After that children (or so I understand) have to go to a regular secondary school and maybe get some extra attention. This is absolutely impossible as the child cannot add 5 and 5 (for example) and she can hardly write or read properly (and for that matter: in Dutch).

Maybe I just missed the correct information. Can anyone give me information on special schools for learning disabilities in New Zealand, particularly for ages 13+.

Has anyone ever dealt with these matters personally?

I hope someone can help out here!

[karltsmith]

Hi Evelien,

In hope the following links will provide you with a good start to your research. I'm afraid I cannot comment on how NZIS might view your situation but there are some positive comments on these links!!!

Best Wishes

Karl


http://www.alliance.org.nz/info.php3?Type=Policy&ID=1185

http://www.ird.govt.nz/childsupport/administrativereviews/whatitis.html

http://www.edusearch.co.nz/content/articles.php?section=0000000008

http://www.gelart.co.nz/children-with-special-needs.htm

http://www.govt.nz/urn.php?id=988

http://www.supportfind.com/category/lear02.asp

http://www.home.school.nz/lkheint.htm

http://www.hdc.org.nz/page.php?&page=publications&publication=58

http://www.kiwinews.co.nz/cgi-bin/editor/print.pl?article=3288

http://www.minedu.govt.nz/index.cfm?layout=document&documentid=6751&indexid= 3964&indexparentid=1010

http://www.nzhehttp://www.minedu.govt.nz/index.cfm?layout=index&indexid=6871&indexparentid= 2107rald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&st oryID=3520538&reportID=1162608

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&st oryID=1293329

http://www2.piperpat.co.nz/nz/schools/special.html

http://www.cyf.govt.nz/view.cfm?pid=12

http://www.speld.org.nz/9

http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Publications/ParentingGuide/SpecialistEducationServices.asp

http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Publications/ParentingGuide/SpecificLearningDisabilitiesAssociation.asp

http://www.teachnz.govt.nz/environment/edusystem/special.html

http://mckenziecentre.nzl.org/

http://www.homeschooling.org.nz/questions.html

http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/get-financial-assistance/extra-help/special-benefit.html

[evelien]

Thanks Karl, you're the best! :P :P :P :P :P :P :P

[paul arthur]

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[nzforus]

hi evelien,

It looks like Karl has sent you a ton of sites to check out! I don't have any specific advice, but I do know it's vitally important to find out BEFORE you go. I had some friends who immigrated to a country (not NZ) with their boy (a similar situation) and they ended up moving back to the U.S. because they felt so unsupported and could not find a school that fit his needs. I hope you find the info you need!
Crossing my :hopeso for you!

nzforus

[ruthyroo]

HI there

Hopefully you can find some help from the site Karl has found for you. I don't have personal experience with this, but my husband is a teacher and has been shocked by how little support there is in NZ school for any child that is 'outside the box', never mind someone who needs the kind of attention your daughter will. The schools are self-funding entities to a great extent, they get a set amount per student, (and it's not enough) and simply cannot afford to provide the kind of support that children like your daughter require. They have no local government links - whereas in the UK a lot of this type of support is provided by the LEA, both in terms of funding and extra bodies to help out. There is some support available from central government, but as always it's never enough. I wish I had more encouraging words for you and hope you can find some one who does. It has really made me appreciate the Scottish education system, coming out here. Best of luck,R