by LDAH | Aug 10, 2016 | Blog, Publications & Research
Listen Ontario Helping Students with Special Needs Reach Their Full Potential Province Responding to Consultation on Provincial and Demonstration Schools August 8, 2016 10:00 A.M. Ministry of Education Today Ontario is announcing next steps to strengthen supports for students who are Deaf or hard of hearing, blind or have low vision, deaf-blind, or have severe learning disabilities. Based on consultations held in spring 2016 with students, families and education and community partners about how Ontario’s provincial and demonstration schools can best support students’ needs, over the coming year the province will: Keep all provincial and demonstration schools open Pilot intensive reading intervention projects in school boards to increase the availability and responsiveness of supports for students with severe learning disabilities in their local communities Establish a reference group to provide guidance and input on strengthening supports for students who are Deaf or hard of hearing Pursue legislative changes to transfer the governance structure of Centre Jules-Léger to the 12 French-language school boards to better support French-language students. These changes support the province’s commitment to ensure the success and well-being of every student no matter where they live. Working with its education and community partners, Ontario is transforming its education system to deliver responsive, high-quality and accessible services and programs that are integrated from early learning and child care, through to adult education. Ontario will continue to find innovative ways to deliver better outcomes for our students and learners so they have the skills they need to succeed. Quick Facts Summaries of the consultations are posted on the Ministry of Education’s website. Provincial and demonstration schools provide programs and services for students who are...
by LDAH | Feb 19, 2016 | Publications & Research
Listen Creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson challenges the way we’re educating our children. He champions a radical rethink of our school systems, to cultivate creativity and acknowledge multiple types of intelligence. Watch this video and let us know what you...
by LDAH | Aug 28, 2015 | Blog, Publications & Research
Listen What Boys Need- Back to School A Newsletter by Michael Reist- www.michaelreist.ca Let’s not forget what we learned this summer. We learned who our boys are without school. If we were lucky, we saw our boys as they are in nature. We saw our boys as they are with unstructured play. They may have complained about boredom at times, but we had the chance to see them as relaxed kids who were free and natural and happy. We have to remember that this is who our boys really are. The great educational theorist, John Holt, said, “In school, we do not see children as they are. We see them as school reveals them to us.” This past summer we got to see who our boys really are. They love to move, they love to have fun, they love to laugh, and they love to have the freedom to be themselves with all their spontaneous, wonderful energy! Now it’s time to go back into “the system.” Let’s remember that it is a system; it is not a natural environment. Some kids manage OK in school; some actually like it, but for many – especially boys – school is not a pleasant place. A.S. Neill asked the fundamental question, “Do we make the child fit the school or do we make the school fit the child?” In our school system today, the child is expected to fit the school. “Sit still, be quiet, and do what you’re told.” We must work to make the school fit the child. Eventually our schools will become more boy-friendly. Parents will become more active...
by LDAH | Mar 7, 2015 | Publications & Research
Listen The Ministries of Children and Youth Services, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and Community and Social Services have asked the organizations in Halton Region who work with children with special needs to come together to plan two strategies: 1. Coordinated Service Planning 2. The Integrated Delivery of Rehabilitation Services. These new strategies will mark the beginning of a new way of delivering services to children and youth with special needs and their families. First steps of the Special Needs Strategy include: Identifying children’s needs earlier and getting them the right help sooner; A new developmental screen for preschool children has been developed that will help identify potential risks to children’s development and connect them with the services they need as early as possible. Coordinated family-centered service planning for children and youth with multiple and/or complex needs; Service planning coordinators will connect families to a range of services and supports and help the family to develop one coordinated service plan. An integrated approach to the delivery of rehabilitation services; Children and youth will receive seamless and effective speech language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy services from birth through school exit. These services will be built around their goals for home, school and the community and be delivered in the way and in the place that meets the needs of the child and family. READ MORE HERE: Parent Engagement Communication FEB15 – final...
by LDAH | Feb 25, 2015 | Publications & Research
Listen This guide was compiled by Graeme Treeby of The “Special Needs” Planning Group. It is intended for free distribution to organizations serving the Special Needs Community, clients and friends of The “Special Needs” Planning Group (www.specialneedsplanning.ca) and anyone else who may be interested. It is not to be taken as Accounting or Tax advice but rather, as a resource to provide a starting point for your journey through the maze that is Income Tax Preparation and Planning for people with a disability and their families. Graeme Treeby can be reached at 905-640-8285 or [email protected] Tax Tips 2014 Final...
by LDAH | Feb 16, 2013 | Publications & Research
Listen The website was created to serve college students with disabilities providing them with a virtual community to provide a voice on important issues with particular emphasis on higher education and employment. The website has been used as a resource by colleges and has been linked to by colleges and universities and groups serving people with disabilities in all 50 states and at least 10 foreign countries. Access the site here: We Connect Now...
