A wholesale review of special needs education in Bermuda is underway after a recommendation by Ombudsman Arlene Brock.In a report recently tabled in Parliament, Ms Brock detailed the results of an investigation prompted by a complaint from a parent of a special needs student.Her findings, she said, “pointed to a critical need for the Department of Education to establish a clear policy and programmes for special needs students”.Previous investigations of “gaps” in the services for special needs students had received assurances that a new strategy was forthcoming, the report said.The latest investigation, however, found that “very little progress had been made or would be likely without external encouragement”.The strategic review is being conducted by the Department of Internal Auditing, said the Ombudsman, with “the full and utter cooperation and enthusiasm from the Ministry of Education”.Ms Brock’s report noted that the complexities of special needs education were not unique to Bermuda, but said there had been a “palpable cynicism and lack of confidence” in the Department’s ability to ”tackle the task of providing suitable education locally for special needs students”.The Ombudsman said last night that as a result of the report, there was now an “absolute resolve, initiative and capacity to work through this” within the Ministry.Meanwhile, Jose Lopez, president of the Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy parent teacher association, yesterday welcomed the report.“I completely agree with the fact that there are gaps, but it doesn’t do any good to point fingers about how we got here,” he said.“It’s more important to focus on a strategy going forward, to give government latitude and not expect everything to happen overnight.”Mr Lopez said he hoped to see a “comprehensive strategy” evolve with an emphasis on transitional services for those with special needs.He added: “There definitely needs to be more open communication and dialogue.“There are a number of special needs organisations that are trying to organise an open discussion of what’s our current status and what’s the strategy going forward.”He agreed with the report’s finding that working with various Government departments at once can be challenging for parents of special needs students, but added:“The people who are in the system that are working with the special needs are very dedicated and the effort is there. But because of Bermuda’s size, being a small community it is hard to handle all circumstances”.Although her office is not formally involved in the review, Ms Brock said she was being apprised of its progress and was pleased with what she had seen.“I think what comes out of it will be stronger than what we started with,” she said.