Special Education

We embrace a philosophy of inclusion. Our Catholic schools are committed to the education of the whole person, since in Christ all human values find their fulfillment and unity. Students with special education needs are supported within Catholic school communities by teams who collaborate and maintain continuous communication to ensure that their diversified needs are met in an inclusive environment.

An essential component of our Special Education Plan is the "School Team Meeting Process". At the School Team Meeting, schools can plan and access programs and services which address the multidimensional needs of the learner. Collaboration and problem solving among our Board and school staff, parents and students, are vital to the development of effective and appropriate interventions.

Special Education and Student Services – Return to Learning 2020

As we return to school in September, students with special education needs will continue to be supported within a faith-filled Catholic learning community. In both the in-class and online learning model, school teams will collaborate with parents and guardians to ensure that each student’s individual well-being and learning needs are met.

Summer Transition Programs

All elementary and secondary schools will be running transition programs in August to support a positive re-entry experience for students with special education needs. The goal of the programs is to provide an opportunity for students to be back in the school, meet some staff members, and be engaged in a fun and meaningful learning activity. Programs will vary from school to school but may include individual and small group settings focused on life skills, self-regulation and tactile activities. Parents and guardians who indicated interest in these programs will be contacted before the start of school with further details.

Supporting Students with Prevalent Medical Conditions

As students with medical needs return to school, pre-existing health care protocols will remain in place. As per our normal process, schools will work in collaboration with families and their health care providers to develop a Prevalent Medical Condition Plan of Care to ensure student safety and empower students to reach their full potential for advocacy and self-management of their medical conditions according to their plan.

Communication will be coming from the school regarding the appropriate process to notify the school of your child’s medical condition(s) as well as the expectations to co-create, review and/or update a required Prevalent Medical Condition Plan of Care with the school team.

Please note the following Plan of Care documents available from the school:

Prevalent Medical Condition – Anaphylaxis Plan of Care
Prevalent Medical Condition – Asthma Plan of Care
Prevalent Medical Condition – Diabetes Plan of Care
Prevalent Medical Condition – Epilepsy Plan of Care
Prevalent Medical Condition – General Plan of Care

We also continue to consult with Durham Public Health to plan for the safe return of students who are medically vulnerable.

Need for Enhanced Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Protocols

Recognizing that all of our students are unique and have different needs, our staff will be following Public Health guidelines to provide the safest environment and care for our students and staff. We are working to ensure that all staff have the required PPE to meet all the needs of students throughout the school day.

Special considerations are being made to accommodate students with hearing loss and auditory processing issues.

Student Mental Health and Well-Being

Students will be returning to school with a varying range of emotions and experiences. As we re-enter schools, one of our top priorities will be well-being, particularly for our students with special education needs – the physical and emotional safety of everyone within our school communities.

Resources will be provided to support educators with a variety of resources, materials and evidence-based strategies tailored to specific ages/grades. We also expect start up resources from School Mental Health Ontario to support positive mental health and well-being. Movement breaks and social-emotional learning will be built into and throughout the school.

Supporting Students with Significant Special Needs in Online Learning

Students with significant health, medical or special education needs will be supported by their teacher(s), program support teachers and educational assistants. A program support teacher will be assigned to the online school and will provide support and consultation to the teachers and parents/guardians. We will endeavour to be as flexible and accommodating as possible in order to ensure that we create the best learning environment for students where they will be given every opportunity to engage and be successful in their learning.

Individual Education Plans (IEPs) that Reflect the Learning Model

Individual Education Plans (IEPs) are written plans outlining the special education program and services required by a particular student. Educators will be supported in developing and updating IEPs in collaboration with parents/guardians and the school team to reflect the selected learning model.

School Team meetings required to facilitate this process will be held virtually through Microsoft Office Teams or via phone. Parents and guardians can expect all regular timelines and protocols for the completion of IEPs to be followed.

Hearing Services

Our Hearing Services department will continue to provide services for students with hearing loss and auditory processing issues. Our resource and itinerant staff will be working in assigned schools to support set up and transition for the start of the year. Regular direct service throughout the year will continue to ensure that we enhance and improve student access to school curriculum in an inclusive Catholic learning environment.

In consultation with Public Health and our Associations, we are exploring possible clear versions of masks that will meet the required health standards and support necessary accommodations to meet the needs of students.

Vision Services

Our Vision Services department will continue to provide support for students who are blind or have low vision. Staff will work with the school team and parents/guardians in multiple ways including providing academic support strategies, suggesting accommodations, assisting in the development of an Individual Education Plan, liaising with community agencies, etc.

Child and Youth Counselling

Starting in September, Child and Youth Counsellors (CYCs) will support and consult with schools to support a universal approach to social-emotional learning to help students bolster their ability to cope and adapt with the unique challenges during this time. CYCs will provide various levels of support in the implementation of a variety of evidence-based social-emotional learning programs.

Social Work Services

Over the summer months, School Social Workers have delivered services online to support student mental health needs. As we transition back to school, online options will continue to ensure that they are accessible for students and families.

Social Workers will continue to be an essential link between home school and community. The referral process may be streamlined at the start of the year to ensure that services can start as soon as possible for selected students. An informed consent will be required and we will accommodate this process to minimize visitors and contacts to the school. Individual intervention will continue through a combination of in-person and online formats.

Speech and Language Pathology

Speech and Language Pathologists will continue to provide services to students in areas such as assessment, consultation with educators and participation in school team meetings. During the month of September, we will endeavour to wrap up assessments and feedback to parents and guardians that may have been interrupted due to school closures. The regular referral process will begin in October through a school team meeting. School Team meetings required to facilitate this process will be held virtually through Microsoft Office Teams or via phone.

Psychological Services

Psychologists will support schools through consultation upon return. During the month of September, we will endeavour to wrap up assessments and feedback to parents and guardians that may have been interrupted due to school closures. The regular referral process will begin in October through a school team meeting. School Team meetings required to facilitate this process will be held virtually through Microsoft Office Teams or via phone.

External Services and Community Agencies

To minimize risk and maximize available support with various external Regulated Health Professionals (e.g., Social Workers, Psychologists) from community organizations, we are developing a protocol for how these external services can be safely introduced to the school. Where available and appropriate, ongoing virtual services will continue to be provided by our external partners. Referrals to external agencies through our board Regulated Health Professional staff will continue.

Updates

School based Rehabilitation Services - November 14, 2019 Update English French