Physical Assistance Centre (PAC)

PHYSICAL ASSISTANCE CENTRE (PAC)

The Physical Assistance Centre (PAC) provides a comprehensive support service for Year 9 to Year 13 students with a physical disability, who have verified ORS funding.

Staffing of the PAC includes two teachers and a number of teacher aides. Other specialist services such as Physiotherapy; Speech Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy are provided by Cornerstone Therapy, if identified as beneficial. Individual Education Programmes (IEPs) are developed with full parental/caregiver input to maximize each student’s potential. The PAC also has a multi sensory room which is called Te Ana Taonga - which literally means The Cave of treasures, attached to the centre, this provides a safe, supportive space away from the noise and triggers of everyday classrooms.

The objective of the PAC is to support students with physical disabilities as much as possible to have a mainstream education experience. We aim to work together to remove the barriers to learning and to enable access to the curriculum. PAC students follow a mainstream timetable to the maximum extent that this is practical and productive. Alternative programmes are developed and timetabled to complement mainstream participation when a full mainstream programme is not realistic. Teacher Aide support is available when required.

Emphasis is put on reaching individual academic potential, the development of the Key Competencies of the New Zealand Curriculum, which include:

communication and social skills, self-management and the enhancement of quality of life. Where the long term focus of secondary education is not to progress on to tertiary study then vocational goals are identified and the senior years at secondary school are focused on networking with community agencies to provide a smooth transition from school to meaningful community participation. We offer support, while encouraging maximum independence for each student.

CONTACT PERSON: Head of Department/Head of Faculty: Mrs J Richardson