***Distressing content warning***

Part 1 testimony begins from 2:36:20 on video. Part 2 testimony begins from 17.30 on video.

At the time of the hearing Trish Grant was the Director of Advocacy at IHC. IHC is a non-governmental organisation that advocates for the rights, inclusion and welfare of all people with intellectual disabilities in New Zealand and supports them to lead to satisfying lives in the community. Ms Grant’s evidence outlined a proceeding taken by the IHC in the Human Rights Review Tribunal. The case alleged that the government unlawfully discriminated against 84,000-106,000 children in state schools who have disabilities and need accommodations to learn. The merits of IHC’s case (i.e. whether or not the government has unlawfully discriminated against children with disabilities) was yet to be heard at the time of the hearing. In her evidence, Ms Grant gave IHC’s view of this situation and its effects on children with disabilities. She also described the challenges people with disabilities face when making claims for abuse against the State, using an anonymised case study where IHC helped a person resolve their claim.