– We have thought that we might have to move to Kristiansand so she can go to the school she wants, says Monica Lindgren. She is the mother of 15-year-old Malin, who has Down syndrome. The family lives in Vennesla municipality, where Malin has just dropped out of secondary school. She has thrived well, but when she now has to go to upper secondary school, the offer in the neighboring municipality of Kristiansand is tempting. The only problem is that free school choice does not seem to apply to Malin. – As a mother, this is painful and painful, and I shed tears. I want the best for her. Malin does not think it is scary to start high school. But she likes to know what’s going to happen. Every day and beyond. – She knows that something is wrong now, because she has stopped talking about what she is going to do this autumn, Lindgren says. Mother Monica Lindgren says it is difficult to be positive when the daughter cannot choose the school she most wants. Photo: Kjetil Samuelsen / news The home address decides – Our address is the reason why Malin is placed in upper secondary school here, says Monica Lindgren. When she was going to choose a school for her daughter, the county council had already chosen for her. They had given her a place at Vennesla upper secondary school because she lives in that municipality. – That she is not allowed to choose for herself as other young people get is discriminatory against Malin, Lindgren says. There is free school choice within the county you live in, but for students with special needs, the local school principle applies. Then students are placed at their local school, to avoid transport. Malin will go on the everyday life line at one of the upper secondary schools in Kristiansand. There she already has good friends, and there is a different arrangement than in Vennesla. The county believes that the offer with the same name in Vennesla is just as good. Lindgren disagrees. – It is far from the same. It’s like comparing a study in sports with a study in music, says Lindgren. Here, Malin receives support from the State Administrator, who believes the county must make a new assessment of the offer. Malin has many interests and a clear desire to go to high school in Kristiansand where she has several friends. Photo: Private – Discriminatory Professionals at Vennesla ungdomsskole support the family’s perception of Malin’s needs. – The school supports parents’ desire for schooling at KKG and Kvadraturen upper secondary school, and not the local school Vennesla upper secondary school, the school states. Anne Cathrine Lie, subject leader for habilitation for children in Vennesla municipality, goes even further. – Placing Malin in advance at Vennesla upper secondary school is discriminatory and will limit her opportunities for development both academically and socially. Malin and her friend Anna Eidet meet at this sign every weekday at 07.55 to go to school together. Photo: Kjetil Samuelsen / news – Must have the same treatment Leader of the Disabled Children’s Parents’ Association, Annette Jensen, believes Malin should have the same treatment as all other students. – That the county council chose a school without having conversations with Malin is not good at all. Unfortunately, we all too often see that choices are made for this group without involvement or conversations in advance. She says that if Malin had been heard, they might have realized how important the choice of school was for her, and that it would have a great impact on her security, well-being and further development. Jensen points out that social conditions are of great importance for students with a disability, as they are vulnerable. – In the extreme, it can lead to school refusal and the student leaving school, she says. Leader of the Handicapped Children’s Parents’ Association, Annette Jensen, believes that free school choice should apply to everyone, regardless of need. Photo: Caroline Utti / news – Feeling different Malin goes to handball training in Kristiansand. There is no such offer for her in Vennesla, so she is much alone. Now the mother notices that the daughter is worried. – She begins to feel that she is different. Therefore, it is good for her to be with others who have Down syndrome. In Kristiansand, Malin has a group of friends with Down syndrome who she likes to be with. Now Monica and her husband Terje have complained to the county and asked the appeals board to reconsider the case. The Appeals Board will assess the case on Thursday. The Appeals Board will decide – We have built up an offer for our students throughout the county and we have adopted a local school principle to avoid driving, explains county director of education, Arly Hauge. It is a local school principle that makes Malin have to go to school in her hometown. To avoid driving, says county director of education, Arly Hauge. Photo: Jon Anders Møllen / news The family is afraid that Malin will be without a school offer that she likes this autumn. An alternative is to change the residential address. – It can not be the case that the residential address should mean so much. We do not take anyone else’s place, says mother Monica.
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Malin has Down syndrome – she is not allowed to choose a school herself – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
