There’s been a strong reaction to Camden Council’s explanation as to why only two of its schools are accessible to wheelchair users. The Assistant Education Director at Camden, Philip O’Hear, argued that lack of funds and high costs had prevented Camden making more schools wheelchair accessible and added ‘It’s not discrimination because it’s not deliberate or conscious.’ In a letter to the editor, Keith Armstrong says such an attitude is appalling and would not be a good defence under the Equal Pay or Race Relations Acts.
Camden New Journal, September 3, 1998.

Blind schoolgirl Carly Salter has been celebrating seven GCSE successes after pioneering a breakthrough for the visually impaired in Wales. Sixteen-year-old Carly, from Curtis Street, Neath, earned the biggest cheer at Cefn Season Comprehensive School for achieving B grades in mathematics French, German, and history and Cs. in English language, literature and science. Carly, the first blind girl to get fully integrated teaching in a mainstream school, sat her exams in Braille.
Neath Guardian September 3, 1998.

Chris Philbin, who has Down’s Syndrome, has blown away the negative attitudes that he and his mother have faced by gaining six GCSEs – that’s six more passes than ten per cent of 16-year-olds left school with this year. Chris from Eastham, London, was born when Newham Council adopted a policy of educating as many special needs children as possible in mainstream schools – a development that was to have a great bearing on his life. Chris gained two Ds in science, an E in art, an F in food technology and Gs in dance and maths. Chris says he is happy with his grades.
City of London Recorder, September 11, 1998.

The Director of Education in Sunderland, Dr. John Williams, has agreed to withdraw an immediate block on new admissions to Barbara Priestman Special School – although the school still faces closure under Sunderland Council’s plans to scrap separate education for physically disabled pupils. Barbara Priestman parent governor, Bridget Rees-Thomas, said the decision would be a relief to parents of disabled children about to start at Barbara Priestman who had been told their children had to go into mainstream schools. ‘They were very worried because the facilities are just not there yet. This is very good news for them.’
Sunderland Echo, September 23, 1998.