The Alberta government is working on a new school framework for children with complex needs. Parents fear that this project will again lack funding and lead to more exclusion.
A dozen parents spoke out via an online survey conducted by CBC and the association Hold my hand Albertawhich represents children with disabilities and their families in education matters.
This fall, the government created a ministerial committee tasked with reviewing the standards for special education, dating from 2003.
This initiative follows the social conflict which pitted the province against teachers, during which the complexity of classes and the lack of resources to respond to it was a major issue.
A more inclusive system
Over the past two decades, school divisions have created specialized classes or schools to meet special education standards. They focus on literacy, basic mathematics and life skills, and award a school leaving certificate rather than a secondary school diploma at the end of grade 12e year.
For Shawna O’Halloran, Aiden’s mother, this parallel education isolated her son and even caused him to regress. All his friends, in 6e year, formed a very close-knit group that surrounded him. Then they all went to community college and he had to go to a college outside of our community to do that program. He lost all his friends
she explains.
Her son has Down syndrome. While he followed the general program in primary school, the transition to a specialized class was a regression, according to her.
In 7e year, her teachers told her the goal was to count to 50. It was a real shock. It was a return to kindergarten level.
This observation is shared by several parents. They say the emphasis is on behavior rather than academic achievement in these specialized classes.
A lack of resources
During last October’s teachers’ strike, many parents and teachers denounced the lack of resources to meet the specific needs of students.
In the traditional system, students with learning disabilities are not provided with enough teaching assistants or tools, such as keyboards and communication devices, to participate in regular classes.
In specialized classes, the ratio between the number of professionals and the number of children is also singled out.
His teacher is great…but they have 10 kids in this class with an aide and a teacher, and one of them spends his time going back and forth to the bathroom
testifies Shannon Epler, another mother.
Overall, respondents said the most important thing was to include parents in discussions.
The Minister of Education, Demetrios Nicolaides, told CBC that he had invited the association Inclusion Alberta at the next committee meeting.
The government has not set a specific date for the publication of the new standards.
With information from Elise Stolte
