YORK children with special needs will deliver a powerful performance to educational professionals in the city on the difficulties they encounter in everyday life.
The students, from Northfield School, will be taking centre stage at a conference in York next week, to be attended by more than 100 delegates.
The 12 students and four staff members will illustrate the treatment which special needs pupils often encounter in the play entitled I May Be Different, But.
Inclusion development worker at City of York Council, Anne Crawford, who has organised the conference, said: "It is important to include the views of all pupils in their education.
"The children from Northfield have produced a powerful drama which tells of their thoughts, ideas and experiences."
The play was co-written by former students from Northfield and the deputy head, Arnie Tweddle.
He said: "The culture still has to change a lot for our type of children who might be different but still have the same hopes, feeling and aspirations.
"The Government is saying that children should be accepted, but they are still not.
"The idea of the play is to make people think."
A total of 125 delegates are expected at the conference called Impact - Not Intentions at York Racecourse next Thursday.
The conference aims to look at the impact of what special education needs pupils are taught and the effects this has.
Delegates at the conference will also get to see a video produced by the Institute of Citizenship in York called Go On Then - Make Inclusion Work.
The video, introduced by David Dimbleby, includes students from Fulford Cross, All Saints, Canon Lee and Northfield School talking about their views on inclusion.
Speaking at the event will be Martyn Rouse, a senior lecturer in special education needs and inclusion at Cambridge University.
Mr Rouse, a former teacher, will speak about measuring the impact of what is taught to special needs children and will look at national policies.
The conference will take place from 9am to 3.30pm. For more information contact Anne Crawford on 01904 554304.
Updated: 08:33 Wednesday, March 17, 2004
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