A New Era in the Right to Sign DEANZ was disestablished in 2007 and capability and the quality of specialist in its place the Ministry of Education teachers.110 Another initiative from the established a “Deaf Education Steering review was enhancing “early language Group” comprising members from the acquisition – oral and NZSL – for access to DECs, parent groups and deaf community the curriculum and building identity”.111 representatives. The steering group met a These are yet to be implemented. few times a year and helped the Ministry plan for the Deaf Education Review that In conjunction with the Review of Special occurred in 2010. It last met in June 2011. Education, a Deaf Education Review was undertaken in 2010. The aim was to In 2009 and 2010, the Government consider the role of the deaf education conducted a review of special education. centres and how they could best work The review resulted in the development together to achieve a national strategy for of the Success for All: Every School, Every deaf education. The key recommendation Child vision for special education. It set a from this review was that the two DECs target that 80 per cent of schools would be governed by a single board to improve provide inclusive education by 2014. In consistency and equity of services. This has 2012, a Taskforce for Inclusive Education been implemented.112 was established within the Ministry of Education to progress this goal.107 This is The DECs and the Blind and Low Vision part of the Government’s broader focus Education Network (BLENZ) have started on raising the rate of participation in early to look at options for aggregating para- childhood education and the percentage of professional resources for students with 18 year olds with NCEA Level 2.108 sensory impairments. They will determine whether this could provide more responsive The Government also decided to aggregate and flexible use of available resources to lift and improve resources for students with achievement outcomes. vision and hearing impairments through the two DECs. The intent was to create The Ministry of Education reports a number more flexibility and scope for customising of other initiatives have been recently resources to deaf students’ needs by using undertaken to improve deaf education, specialist teachers, note-takers, interpreters including: and new specialist roles.109 1 additional funding for more study A work stream, developed from the special awards for RTDs and more NZSL education review to address workforce interpreter training scholarships capability, specifically included NZSL 41