Around 100 people attended the launch. The event was co-hosted by Minister Ruth Dyson and Green Party spokesperson on education and disability issues Metiria Turei. Speakers were IEAG spokespeople Ian Armstrong and Kris Appleby, inclusive education expert and academic Roger Slee from McGill University in Canada, and IHC Director of Advocacy Trish Grant. A young people’s group finished off the event with a series of skits about what they feel about inclusive education.

Ian Armstrong spoke at the launch about his experiences both as a father and long-time campaigner for inclusive education.

Download the text to his speech here.

Roger Slee speaks at IEAG launch

Parent and IEAG spokesperson Kris Appleby, Dr Roger Slee and Dr Jude MacArthur were interviewed about inclusive education on Radio New Zealand National's Nine to Noon show on the day of the launch. The audio for this has now been removed from the Radio New Zealand site but you can purchase a copy from Replay Radio.

IEAG became incorporated in May 2008 and is a registered charity (CC38831) with IRD donee status. IEAG is a community-based organisation, with our constitution ensuring that the majority of people on our governing committee are people with a disability or a family member of a person with a disability. The governing committee is elected annually.