1.1. 60% of all of all discrimination complaints received by the Canadian Human Rights Commission are related to disability
1.2. “1 in 10 students with a disability end their education early because of their disability.”
1.3. “1 in 4 students with a disability have been bullied in school because of their disability”
1.4. “Canadians with mental or physical disabilities have the right to live free from discrimination, to enjoy the same quality of service, quality of education, quality of vocation, quality of inclusion and the same quality of life as every person in Canada”
2. Funding for Special Education
2.1. FG: Foundation Grant For school boards for each student
2.2. SEG: Special Education Grant For students who need special programs, services and equipment
2.3. SEPPA: Special Education Per-Pupil Amount For special education purposes-> more money for primary students than older ones
2.4. HNA: High Needs Amount For ABA expertise
2.5. SEA: Special Equipment Amount For technology and equipment
2.6. SIP: Special Incidence Portion For students who require more than 2 staff for safety purposes
2.7. FA: Facilities Amount To provide instruction in a care facility other than a school
2.8. 2019-20, the Special Education Grant is projected to be $3.10 billion… so much money… yet not nearly enough
3. Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
3.1. History: - an organization of volunteers and parents; each board mandated to have by federal & provincial law; representatives are from local associations that will have the interest and well-being of children or adults
3.2. Roles & Responsibilities: - members participate in the annual review of the board's Special Education Plan and review budget; review the financial statements of the board as they relate to special education; members are entitled to one vote; committee meets at least 10 times during each school year; SEAC represents the students as a collective and do not advocate on behalf on individual families
3.3. School Board Obligations: - SEAC members are apppointed and receive in-training sessions from the board; a new SEAC is formed every 4 years following the election of the board of trustees; -representatives, including alternates, can be from up to 12 local associations and need to: operate throughout Ontario, not be represented by professional educators, further teh interests & well-being of exceptional children or adults, 1-2 person are needed to represent the interest of First Nations students, need to be at least 18 years of age
3.4. Legislation: Ontario Regulation 464/97
3.5. Funding: - provided to each individual school board from the Ministry of Education; -each school board will have their own budget format and process; -SEAC members need to ask their local school board questions and seek clarification about the Annual Special Education budget; -under the Ontario Human Rights Code, school board have a duty to accommodate and need to find the money necessary for students with disabilities; -all students are funded through the Foundation Grant and other special purpose grants ~ The Special Education Grant is intended to support the incremental additional costs of special education of programs and services
4. Policy & Procedure Memorandums (PPMs)
4.1. PPM 1 (1986) - specialized schools for the deaf and the blind are create resource programs to better support school boards and other agencies
4.2. PPM 8 (2014) - lays out requirements for school boards for the identification of and program planning for students who have learning disabilities and learning difficulties
4.3. PPM 11 (1982) - each school board is required to have procedures in place to identify students' levels of development, abilities, and needs, starting from when they enter school
4.4. PPM 59 (1982) - informed consent must be obtained and steps to protect confidential information must be in place for assessments done by a psychologist employed by the school board
4.5. PPM 76C (1991) - recognizes that flexible funding for alternative educational placements is needed for deaf, blind, and deaf-blind students
4.6. PPM 84 (1984) - the responsibility for providing health support services for students in school is shared among the Ministries of Education, Health, and Community and Social Services
4.7. PPM 85 (2016) - to improve student learning, achievement and well-being for students in Care and/or Treatment, Custody and Correctional (CTCC) Facilities
4.8. PPM 127 (2009) - allows mature students to enroll directly into the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC) in order to meet the graduation requirement, without first attempting and failing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
4.9. PPM 140 (2007) - school boards must offer students with ASD special education programs and services, including, where appropriate, special education programs using ABA methods
4.10. PPM 156 (2013) - a transition plan must be developed for all students who have an IEP and be developed in consultation with the parent(s), the student (as appropriate), the post secondary institution (where appropriate), and relevant community agencies and/or partners, as necessary
5. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
5.1. Purpose: “To promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.”
5.2. Article 24: Education
5.3. Legally Binding
5.4. "Education of persons with disabilities must foster their participation in society, their sense of dignity and self worth and the development of their personality, abilities and creativity”
5.5. Countries are to ensure equal access to primary and secondary education, vocational training, adult education and lifelong learning.
