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. • 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.

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.

• 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

• 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. • The language of instruction is Dutch, but children from a non-Dutch background can sometimes be taught in their mother tongue to help them settle in.

• You will find Special Educational Needs (SEN) teachers at international schools where the language of instruction will be English, but you may have to fund the assistant.

• The school of their choice – special or mainstream – will receive funding to cater for their needs, and the school will arrange assistance as required.

• For higher education, “education and disability” visit (www.onderwijsenhandicap.nl) .

FUNDING

• There is also financial support for individual families, such as additional child benefit, healthcare and carer allowances, and adaptations to home or transport.

• Search the government welfare site www.svb.nl to see if you qualify for a carer’s allowance (TOG) or a personal budget (PGB) to cover support costs.

ASSISTANCE ORGANISATIONS (LINKS MOSTLY IN DUTCH)

• ANGO: General Dutch Disability Organisation +31(0)33 465 4343 | www.ango.nl

• MEE: Support and help for living with a disability +31(0)900 999 88 88 | www.mee.nl

• Ieder(in): Network for the chronically ill and disabled +31(0)30 720 0000 | www.iederin.nl

• Accessibility Foundation: Accessible internet for all +31(0)30 239 82 70 | www.accessibility.nl

• Valys: Regional assisted transport +31(0)900 9630 | www.valys.nl

• Handilinks: A useful portal with lots of related links www.handilinks.nl

• Dutch Autism Network: www.landelijknetwerkautisme.nl

• Down Syndrome Foundation (SDS): www.downsyndroom.nl

• Deaf/blind support: www.kentalis.nl

• Children/teenagers support: www.nsgk.nl

GOING OUT AND HOLIDAYS

• A combination of wheelchair accessible activities and accommodation can be found at www.accessibletravel. nl, and restaurants from several sites (for example www.thefork.nl)

• Good sources for sporty types include Stichting Resa (www.stichtingresa.nl or www.fondsgehandicaptensport.nl.

• Amsterdam has a dedicated site detailing accessible buildings: www.clientenbelangamsterdam.nl

• Some camp sites such as De Ruimte (www.campingderuimte.nl) cater especially for children with special needs.

• Find out about accessible nature reserves and recreation areas at Staatsbosbeheer (www.staatsbosbeheer.nl)

• For farther travels, organised group trips are available at www.buitengewoonreizen.nl.

• Accessible Travel Netherlands (www.accessibletravel.nl) is a local tour operator specialising in holidays for anyone with special access needs.

Welcome to the Netherlands and our community!

Crossroads International Church

we are a family-friendly, english-speaking, international church in amstelveen. discover more at xrds.nl. xrds.nl