A Sinn Féin claim that Mr Martin McGuinness made special needs education a priority while in office was today queried by the SDLP.
SDLP equality spokesperson Ms Patricia Lewsley said the claim about the former education minister in Sinn Féin's election broadcast yesterday was misleading and inaccurate.
The Lagan Valley Assembly candidate said: "That is just not true.
"Three years ago new laws in Britain gave children with special educational needs the right to attend mainstream schools and protection against discrimination.
"But children in the north of Ireland are still being treated like second class citizens without the same rights.
"Martin McGuinness just did not deliver for them.
Sinn Féin Education spokeswoman Ms Michelle Gildernew disputed Ms Lewsley's claim.
The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP said: "Martin McGuinness made children with special educational needs a priority.
"While recognising that there was much more to do Martin McGuinness delivered for children with special educational needs.
"Patricia Lewsley I suspect has ignored the draft Special Educational Needs and Disability Bill that was jointly published by Martin McGuinness's department and the Department of Employment and Learning (where one of her colleagues was a minister.
"This legislation was "a first but vital step in putting in place legislation to address the requirements of our young people who have special educational needs and disabilities" and is specifically intended to give school pupils and students here the same rights with regard to access to schools and further and higher education institutions as the 2001 legislation in Britain.