Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker is calling changes to special education services for children with complex needs catastrophic for families who count on them.
He joined parents of children with learning disabilities at Queen's Park today to support demonstration schools.
Even though the Liberal government announced yesterday that enrollment would be reopened at the provincial and demonstration schools, he says many questions remain about support staff who have not been hired for the new school year. The future of these schools is also in doubt beyond the 2016-17 school year.
Walker says constituent Melanie Dennie has a 12-year-old son applying to Trillium school, which is one of the schools the provides specialized programs for severely learning-disabled students in Ontario.
“It appears to be a cost-cutting measure to balance the budget,” the Elmwood native wrote in her letter to MPP Walker. “Our students did not create Ontario’s deficit and we should not jeopardize their future to fix it.”
“The minister said this is not about the money, but the reality yet again is their continued waste, mismanagement and overspending is negatively impacting people and the services and programs they deserve,” says Walker. “Why is this minister telling parents in my riding, like Melanie Dennie and others, their children are getting more special education dollars when in fact she is gutting core special education resources and planning to close schools across Ontario?”
Walker adds the government is seriously undermining special education services.
Education Minister Liz Sandals responded that not all schools for children with severe learning disabilities are closing, with institutes in Brantford, Milton and Belleville to stay open.
She says they want to provide better programming for children who are deaf.
