News
Sad satement by Ont's former Finance Minister
A co-founder of the Ontario Autism Coalition has accused a provincial Liberal politician of suggesting she should have her autistic son jailed to get better treatment for him.Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2010/08/30/sorbara-autistic-teen348.html#ixzz0yOCHJ27d
Dr Lovass has died.
Dr Lovass a pinoneer in the treament of Autism, died on August 4th 2010. Dr Lovass is one of the creators of ABA therapy. This is a great loss to the world. Edu-Advocates wishes to thank Dr Lovaas for his compassion and his untiring research into Autism. We wish to give his family and friends our greatest sympathy in their moment of loss.Schools out for Summer
Yay! What can you do to keep kids busy? Well lets start with those who are still working for the summer.... you need camps.
Camps: The city has many camps and Ottawa is filled with great opportunities for kids. One interesting camp is from iPlay. iPlay in Kanata has a really cool summer camp that my kids just loved. They got an opportunity to develop web pages and video games. Yes that is right, their own games. Not to mention, they played lots of video games. In my opinion, this is a 10-14 year old boys dream camp. If your child requires assistive technology and you want them to get a little more comfortable with a computer, this is a fun way to do it. Tell Dave, Dale says hi.
The LDAO in Ottawa is running their summer camp right now. This is a camp experience designed for those with LD or High functioning Autism, PDD and/or Aspergers.
New Study Autism in the Schools
This is a NEW study we are undertaking that is designed to examine how students with Autism (ASD) are faring (disciplinary action) in the schools. We hear what the schools have to say now lets hear from you! Please visit Survey Monkey and take the survey Click here to take survey
Dec 2009 "Ottawa's public schools are suspending a growing number of students with special needs from autism to learning disabilities..."
"Ottawa's public schools are suspending a growing number of students with special needs from autism to learning disabilities, according to a newly released report obtained by the Citizen. The report, which will be discussed tonight by the board of education's Special Education Advisory Committee, shows that at the same time overall suspensions have dropped almost 38 per cent over the past five years. But it is the increase related to the suspension of children with special needs that is raising concern. "The kids who need help the most are the ones getting suspended," said Dale Ford, a former special education resources teacher who acts as an advocate for the families of suspended children....." For the full article visit the Ottawa Citizen.
"There were 890 suspensions of students with learning disabilities, up from 672 the previous year."
Exclusion from school:
It has come to our attention that children in Ontario are being "Excluded" from school. Some of these students are high needs special education students who NEED additional resourses, not told to go home with no options for an education. Parents are being told that their child is excluded from school due to safety concerns. If you are concerned about children having their right to an education, to a future, taken away from them, please send the following letter to the Minister of Education:
Use the following letter or write your own. Contact information for Kathleen Wynne, the Minister of Education in Ontario, is provided.
Dear Minister,
It has come to my attention that children in Ontario are being "excluded" from school. Could you please launch an investigation to determine how many children are being excluded from attending school.
Sincerely, __________________
Hon Kathleen O. Wynne - Contact Information
kwynne.mpp@liberal.ola.org
Ministry of Education
22nd Floor, Mowat Block 900 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario M7A 1L2
Tel 416-325-2600
Fax 416-325-2608
Constituency office Suite 101 795 Eglinton Avenue East Toronto, Ontario M4G 4E4
Tel 416-425-6777 Fax 416-425-0350
LDAO report on lack of Knowledge Accommodating Children in the School System.
You have got to read this report from the LDAO. They have spent two years completing a research project in to knowledge that professional in our education system have with regard to Learning Disabilities. Ever wonder why some times staff don't seem to understand how to help your child? Read the new study, go to our links page and visit the LDAO's website for more information. A Pan-Canadian Perspective on the Professional Knowledge Base of Learning Disabilities The new applied research study took 2 years to develop. The study surveyed Ministries of Education across the country to identify requirements for teachers and psychologists working with students who have learning disabilities, and the existence of policies to guide their work. The study concludes that Canada's Ministries of Education have no specific guidelines for teachers or psychologists to address the needs of students with learning disabilities. A Pan-Canadian Perspective on the Professional Knowledge Base of Learning Disabilities by David Philpott and Mildren Cahill. Ottawa: Leaning Disabilities Association of Canada. Released December 8, 2008.
Ill-prepared to help LD students
By Janet Steffenhagen 12-08-2008 Teachers and psychologists have little information about learning disabilities when they enter their professions and have no guidelines to help them in their work with LD students. That's the conclusion of a study released today by the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, which found that no province or territory requires teachers or psychologists working with children to take even a single course on learning disabilities. Furthermore, there are no regulations to ensure consistent and informed practice in identifying and working with LD children, it says. "The findings of this study underscore the need for enhanced professional knowledge, especially in light of the shift towards inclusive classrooms," the association says in a release. "Given Canada's increasingly mobile and diverse population, the time has come for a national understanding of Learning Disabilities and of the processes to accommodate these students," adds Mildred Cahill, an education professor at Memorial University who conducted the study with her colleague David Philpott, an associate professor of special education. There are more than three million Canadians with learning disabilities, the release says.
April 2nd is World Autism Day!
We will post activities here as soon as we know about them
Technology Concerns? Wondering about additional Special Education Funding?"
The 2009-2010 SEA and SIP Education Funding information - Click here for the new 2009-2010.PDF
Bursaries and grant information for LD students Click here.
Ottawa Citizen News on Edu-Advocates.
Read About Edu-Advocates in the Citizen- Click here to see what the Ottawa Citizen has to say.