Our White Paper - Unlocking the Enormous Potential of Neurodiverse Learners - sets out the failure we see every day of our education system to provide for the needs of neurodiverse learners and its massive social and economic cost.
We call for a whole-of-system, fully-resourced, long-term change process, across every level of the education system. This also means the education and health systems must work together to allow early diagnosis and support. This will take time. An incoming Government should implement three key initiatives immediately as a critical first step in that change process.
Build Awareness and Understanding
Fund a multi-year Neurodiversity Awareness programme targeted at parents, teachers, school leaders and boards of trustees, health professionals and young people themselves
Require School Neurodiversity and
Disability Action Plans
Require schools and kura to provide a Neurodiversity and Disability Action Plan (NDAP) as a condition of learning support funding.
Scale up programmes
that work
Scale up proven programmes to ensure equitable access and grow system capability.
The White Paper was launched in Wellington on 7 June 2023.