Timeline of events
- 1989 onwards: Families lobby for their children to have the same rights to enrol as their non-disabled peers. They reach out to IHC about the many problems, saying legal rights mean nothing in the classroom.
- 2008: IHC lodges formal complaint under the Human Rights Act alleging discrimination of students with disabilities because of the government’s inadequate systems and structures.
- 2009: The Ministry of Education (MOE) is notified of IHC’s complaint.
- 2010: Review of Special Education – Success for All policy – every school, every child.
- 2012: IHC files claim in Human Rights Review Tribunal (HRRT).
- 2014: IHC files amended claim in Human Rights Review Tribunal.
- 2015: Crown attempts to strike out aspects of IHC’s claim. Preliminary hearing on three issues.
- 2016: Confidential discussions are held between IHC, MOE, Education Review Office, and Education Council over four days – fails to reach settlement.
- December 2020: HRRT dismisses strike-out action, meaning IHC’s legal action can be heard.
- February 2021: Director of the Office of Human Rights Proceedings agrees to provide IHC with free legal representation.
- 9 August 2021: IHC’s fourth amended Statement of Claim filed with Human rights Review Tribunal.
- 6 December 2022: Human Rights review Tribunal sets dates for legal process including a hearing date of 27 May 2024.
- 26 April 2023: Ministry of Education requests changes to timeline established by Tribunal.
- 21 June 2023: IHC and MOE agree to vacate HRRT proceedings for constructive confidential and without prejudice discussions aimed at out of Court settlement.
- 29 November 2023: Discussions commence.
- 2024: Ongoing discussions focused on alignment between Minister of Education’s priorities for systems change with IHC’s claim that the education system discriminates against disabled students.
