FAMILIES SPECIAL NEEDS
SPECIAL NEEDS
A wide array of organisations assist people with special needs in the Netherlands.
• The Netherlands has legislation protecting the rights of people with a physical, mental, emotional, or sensory impairment that ensures equal access to social, economic and transport systems and encourages full participation in society.
• The Netherlands has legislation protecting the rights of people with a physical, mental, emotional, or sensory impairment that ensures equal access to social, economic and transport systems and encourages full participation in society.
• Your gemeente site will give local information, often in English, for the location of disabled parking places and other access issues, or look up zorg en welzijn and gehandicapten. EDUCATION
TRANSPORT • Old Dutch cities with narrow, uneven streets and bikes parked everywhere are not brilliant terrain for those in wheelchairs, but access is improving. • Help is available getting to/through Schiphol airport (www.schiphol.nl) and railways (www.ns.nl), and the railway company NS has a bureau for disabled travellers (call 030 235 7822 or register online) to request journey assistance.
• Children are encouraged to attend mainstream primary schools under the ‘Going to school together’ policy. • The Inclusive Education Act (Wet Passend Onderwijs) requires all schools to provide equal learning opportunities for every child. • Parents can opt for a special school, whether a speciaal basisonderwijs (SBO) for learning and behavioural support or a speciaal onderwijs at both primary (SO) and secondary (VSO) for specific special needs.
WWW.EXPATFAIR.NL | THE NETHERLANDS | SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR INTERNATIONALS 2020
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