Extended education for persons with disability

I am the father of a child with Down Syndrome. I agree that there is no continuous education for our children. There is neither information nor a planned system for them to continue to further their education.

Although from time to time our children take a psychological test to establish their mental age, the result is that they are still below 16. So why don't they repeat Fifth Form or attend some form of extended secondary education?

A plan to cater for adults with intellectual disability does not exist. What we as parents and educators taught them and invested melts away as soon as they finish their compulsory education.

These adults should not be left out of the educational system and the workforce. Within the EU, all citizens have equal rights. Parents should work together to send a clear message that we are ready to fight prejudice, intolerance and inequality.

The EU has dedicated a budget of €15 million towards equal opportunities for persons with disability. Why don't education authorities start working on a system like extended secondary education for these adults with intellectual disabilities?

This way they would have a better future, a better standard of education, and they may look forward to life-long education. This would also avoid people with intellectual disabilities relying on a disability pension for life.

In this European Year of Equal Opportunities I appeal to the authorities concerned to hurry up and eliminate inequality.