A wide array of organisations assist people with special needs in the Netherlands. A guide compiled by Ann Maher.

The Netherlands has legislation protecting the rights of people with a physical, mental, emotional or sensory impairment that ensures equal access to social, economic and transport systems and full participation in society. In typical Dutch fashion, multiple ministries and organisations coordinate policy. Your doctor, city hall, or one of the major advice centres (ANGO, CG-Raad or MEE) can point you in the right direction.

Experienced expats can also provide invaluable advice and support – put up a thread on a forum.

Transport
Old Dutch cities with narrow, uneven streets and bikes parked everywhere are not brilliant terrain for those in wheelchairs, but access is improving. Help is available getting to/through Schiphol airport (www.ihd-zorg.nl), on the railways (www.ns.nl) and there's a bureau for disabled travellers (030-235 7822). Your gemeente site will give local information, often in English, for the location of disabled parking places and other access issues. Or select zorg en welzijn and gehandicapten.

Education
Wherever possible, children are encouraged to attend mainstream primary schools under the “Going to school together” policy”. A quarter of Down's syndrome children now attend mainstream education. Parents can also opt for a special school with referral from a Regional Education Centre (REC). There are 320 special primary schools and 323 secondary schools. The language of instruction is Dutch but children from a non-Dutch background can sometimes be taught in their mother tongue to help them settle in. SEN teachers are in place at international schools (public and private) where the language of instruction will be (mostly) English but you may have to fund the assistant. Contact the school directly in the first instance. For higher education, handicap+studie is a Dutch expert centre.   (www.onderwijsenhandicap.nl).

Funding
Many services (such as transport) are supported by government funding but there is also financial support for individual families: additional child benefit; healthcare and carer allowances; and adaptations to home or transport. Search ’special needs‘ on the government social welfare site www.svb.nl.

Going out
Wheelchair accessible hotels are selectable from the national tourist board (www.holland.com) and restaurants from several sites (such as www.iens.nl, www.dinnersite.nl). Tennis or hockey or rugby on wheels? Underwater diving? Good sources for sporty types include Stichting Resa (www.stichtingresa.nl) or  www.fondsgehandicaptensport.nl.

Holiday
De Zeeland (www.zeilenalacarte.nl ) offers adapted sailing trips for wheelchair users and families. Some campsites cater to people with special needs more than others. For instance, campsite De Ruimte (www.campingderuimte.nl/) is particularly focussed on accomodating families with children with special needs. Find out about accessible nature reserves and recreation areas at Staatsbosbeheer.

Links – mostly in Dutch.
ANGO (www.ango.nl ) (National organisation for the Disabled).
MEE (www.mee.nl) Enter a postcode for local resources.
CG-RAAD ( www.raad.nl) for chronically sick and handicapped.
Handilinks (www.handilinks.nl) is a useful portal with lots of links
Autism (www.landelijknetwerkautisme.nl/); (www.aaof.info) (autism for overseas families.
Deaf/Blind (www.doofblind.nl)
Children (www.nsgk.nl);  (www.moov.nl)
Bartimeus – info for blind and visually impaired on accessible computer use
Bartiméus Accessibility Foundation (www.accessibility.nl) (English section) offers info on the the accessibility of the Internet, including people with a disability
Regional Assisted Transport - Valys (www.valys.nl).

18 June 2008 

 Ann Maher is a writer and editor based in the Netherlands.

[Copyright Expatica 2008]