An organization that supports families of students with disabilities and complex learning needs
Provides guidance and advocacy for parents who feel lost or overwhelmed in navigating the education system
How to Help Create an Inclusive Classroom/Community?
Ensure all students feel valued and included
Provide appropriate support to meet diverse learning needs
Foster collaboration etween teachesr, students, and families
Work with the school team to develop plans with parents and students who may need extra support
Create safety plans (this may be the only option in some cases)
Accessing Support & Funding
The student has to have an assesment in order to revice funding
Schools have limited assesments available, so families often need to seek private assesments which can take a very long time
Early intervention is key to supporting students effectively but this can be a challenge when assessment is so limited
Challenges
Underfunding – many students go undiagnosed and don’t receive funding, or do receive funding but it goes towards students who may have a more severe disability (e.g. a student who has autism may not get support because the student in a wheelchair needs more assistance)
Prioritization Issues – some students receive more support, while others who still need support may be overlooked
Using Technology for Support
For nonverbal students: Ipad’s with TouchChat or other AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) apps
For students with hearing difficulties: Microphones, hearing aids, and. subtitles/visual aids
Issues with this include: some families may be unfamiliar or don’t have internet or time to use technology, many people have resistance to change, and lack of funding can slow implementation