Introduction

The usual party political tactics seem to have been employed in the House of Commons. The education of pupils and students who are disabled occurs within a wider social context including changing political circumstances. There are fundamental issues for teachers, educationists, psychologists, social work, health professionals and others who work alongside children and young people who are disabled. Disabled people, and their families, are particularly vulnerable to having life and learning decisions made for them all along the line thus reducing their participation and denying them basic human and civil rights. At the heart of the educational endeavours of all concerned, whether disabled or non-disabled, is choice, opportunity and learning. What services there are to support children with physical disabilities are divided between health, education and social services with inevitable managerial and professional barriers or complications.