If you receive “special education”, you need to be given extra help at school, so that you can get the best out of your education. This is because you have a disability. It can be something physical (to do with your body) or intellectual or psychological (to do with your mind). There are many different sorts of disabilities. Thousands of children and young people in New Zealand schools have disabilities.

The law says you are not meant to get special education unless there is a written agreement between the Ministry of Education and your parents. This is called a “section 9 agreement”. Special education is usually provided in a special school or unit and most students receiving special education will have Ongoing Reviewable Resource Scheme (ORRS) funding.