Cuts throw doubt on disability aid

Christian Kumitau and his mother, Sifa Pavihi, see his school physio sessions as vital. Photo / Kenny Rodger

If Christian Kumitau loses the physiotherapy he receives at school, he risks a return of the deep ulcer that once afflicted him.

The 13-year-old from Mangere in South Auckland, confined to a wheelchair, is a beneficiary of a $2.5 million-a-year scheme to provide therapies at school for children with physical disabilities.

But the Government has decided to end the funding from next year, which, at best, is likely to force a drop in therapy hours at the 23 schools involved.

Parents and schools can't understand the cut, when the scheme works well for the children.

Christian's mother, Sifa Pavihi, a part-time teacher aide, drives him to and from Mt Roskill Intermediate School, which has a special unit for children with physical disabilities such as muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy. It employs the equivalent of 2.5 fulltime therapists to provide physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech-language therapy, as well as teachers and education assistants.

Christian has syringomyelia, a degenerative condition of the nerves which came on when he was 5. He has no feeling below his chest but intellectually he is normal.

School principal Mike O'Reilly said Christian was in a mainstream class.

"He hangs out with all the other Year 8 kids. He has a mate in a wheelchair. They mess around and do stupid things - they are just typical boys but they are in wheelchairs."

Ms Pavihi said the public health system no longer provided physiotherapy for Christian. Work and Income provided $70 a fortnight for his support and the Government paid for modifications to their home.

She and partner Gerald Kumitau, a storeman, ensured Christian spent time out of his chair at home and exercised, but they were not physiotherapists and could not afford to pay for private treatment. The two sessions a day he received at school were therefore vital.

"If these kids don't have that therapy, their skin can break down ... Christian used to have [an ulcer], then he got nursed through the school."

The school is on the same campus as a primary school and high school and all three have units to support pupils with disabilities.

"These kids are totally dependent on this support," Ms Pavihi said. She has signed a petition asking the Government not to abandon the scheme.

Education Minister Anne Tolley and her associate minister, Heather Roy, did not reply to Herald questions yesterday. Mrs Roy has previously said just 23 schools had received the therapist funding and children at schools that had not received it did not seem to be adversely affected.

Mr O'Reilly said although the Government had increased overall special needs funding by more than $50 million over two years, this was partly financed by the $2.5 million cut.

The school intended to continue providing therapies but he had been forced into a restructuring that could reduce therapy hours, force cuts in other areas and increase class sizes.

* Therapy users

The disorders include

Muscular dystrophy - a group of genetic disorders which lead to slow but progressive degeneration of muscles.

Cerebral palsy - a disorder of movement and co-ordination. Can also be associated with epilepsy, mental retardation, hearing defects, language delay and learning disabilities. Mostly caused by brain damage before or during birth, commonly by lack of oxygen.