Special education funding is leaving kids behind

Watch MPP Stephen Blais debate sepcial education funding.

(Video in English)

Last year, Juliet was thriving.

With proper educational assistant support, this bright young girl with Down syndrome succeeded in French immersion, earned awards and showed what true inclusion looks like when students are given the help that they need to succeed.

This year, everything changed.

Because of funding shortfalls, Juliet’s school can now offer only 30 minutes of EA support each day. Without that assistance, her teacher is left with no choice but to give her colouring pages, not math, simply so that she has something to do while the rest of the class learns.

As her father heartbreakingly put it: “She went from thriving to just being a bum in a seat.”

That is not inclusion. It is not dignity. And it is not the education that Ontario promises to children with learning disabilities.

In Question Period this week, I asked the Premier when his government will provide the funding needed to ensure that students, like Juliet, receive real, meaningful support, not busy work that sidelines them from learning. Blaming school boards doesn’t change the reality facing families, and it doesn’t help children sitting in classrooms without the support that they need to flourish.

Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and reach their full potential. Ontario can and must do better.