UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
2011 04 13
The Special Education Advisory Committee of the Upper Grand District School Board met on
Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. in the Boardroom at 500 Victoria Road North, Guelph.
The following were present:
Association Members
Kim Brenner, Parents for Children’s Mental Health-Wellington County
Pauline Busby, Community Living Guelph-Wellington
Heather Clemmer, Easter Seals Ontario
Sharon Dills, Learning Disabilities Association of Wellington County
Beth Haworth, Community Member at Large
Patricia Hlushko, Autism Ontario-Wellington County (Alternate)
Jason Offer, Association for Bright Children of Ontario (ABC)
Sue Shaw, Autism Ontario-Wellington County
Stacey Stevens, VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children
Katie Vanderyt, VIEWS for Children Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision
Staff
Heather Boswell, Superintendent of Program
Jacqueline Foster, Special Education Coordinator/Special Education Consultant
Lesley Anne Jordan, Special Education Consultant
Stephen Gayfer, Secondary Vice-Principal
Chris Kay, Elementary Principal
Sandra Szpular, Collaborative Projects Lead/Special Education Coordinator
Bonnie Talbot, Principal of Program
Barb Tomkins, Special Education Consultant
Leta Vos, Special Education Consultant/Special Education Teacher
Trustees
Marty Fairbairn
Jennifer Waterston
Regrets
Laurie Whyte, FASworld Canada (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders)
Sue Adams, Special Education Consultant
Jason Offer called the meeting to order.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Moved by Katie Vanderyt
That the agenda of the April 13, 2011 meeting be approved.
The motion carried.
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April 13, 2011
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Moved by Jennifer Waterston
That the minutes of the meeting held on February 9, 2011 be approved.
The motion carried.
COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS IN SECONDARY DEVELOPMENTAL Action
DISABILITY PROGRAMS
Through a PowerPoint presentation, Leta Vos, Special Education Consultant presented
“Community Experience for Students in Secondary Developmental Disability Programs”. She
began by explaining that the community is an extension of the classroom. She outlined the
classroom learning and skill development items, goal setting and transition planning, and
independence. The Vision is to help students with a developmental disability participate fully
as citizens in our communities.
A chart listing the types of supports and staff providing
support to these students in secondary schools was shown. The goals of the work experience
component outlined the skills students develop. Examples of these skills are an awareness of
the importance of academic skills in the workplace by completing the application process,
decision making skills, a sense of purpose and making a contribution to the community. Safety
training, street smarts, bus training, time management and responsibility were a few of the
more specific skills referenced.
The School Community Work Transition Program Guidelines were reviewed with the age in
which students may begin taking part in work placements outlined. Examples of different InSchool Work Experience and Community Work Experience were shown noting students are
placed in the appropriate setting depending on their ability. The School to Community
Transition Planning for students in Post-Secondary Education/Training, Employment Day
Programs and Living in the Community was also shown.
Sue Shaw inquired about the number of students taking part in community work experience
placements.
GRADUATION OF STUDENTS WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY: SHIFT FROM
SCHOOL YEAR OF 21ST BIRTHDAY TO CALENDAR YEAR OF 21ST BIRTHDAY
Heather Boswell, Superintendent of Program, referred to the report presented at the March
29th Board Meeting entitled “Graduation of Students with a Developmental Delay: Shift from
School Year of 21st Birthday to Calendar Year of 21st Birthday” that was distributed this
evening.
The background around programming provided for students in developmental disability
programs in the Upper Grand District School Board and our plans to shift the graduation
age for students in this program was shared. As past practice, students would graduate at
the end of the school year of their 21st birthday. Our Board was encouraged by the Ministry
of Education to make the shift in graduation to June of the calendar year that students
turned 21 years of age. By doing so, our board would align with the practices of the Toronto
Special Education Advisory Committee Minutes … Page 3
April 13, 2011
Area Region Boards. The Special Education department was planning to communicate this
with parents of students who would be impacted as we had planned on full implementation
of this change in June 2012. Concerns were expressed by families who had a child with a
September to December birthday as a school year would be omitted from their long-term
care plans if they graduated in June of the calendar year of their 21st birthday. Parents felt
this should have been communicated with them when their child transitioned from
elementary to secondary school.
Attention was drawn to Appendices 1 and 2. Appendix 1 outlines the projected number of
students in secondary developmental disability programs 2011-2012 and the number of
teachers for each class. The information in Appendix 2 outlines the graduation data for
students in secondary developmental disability programs and indicates the year students
would graduate based on their date of birth. Note: There will be revisions made to this
based on the recommendations approved by the Board.
The Board approved the recommendations put forward thereby grandfathering students
currently in secondary school developmental disability programs. A copy of the report has
been posted on the Upper Grand District School Board website: “From the Program
Department – SEAC – SEAC Minutes and Reports”.
TRANSITION PROCESS AND PARENT INVOLVEMENT FOR ENTRY INTO
SPECIALIZED CLASS PLACEMENTS AND TRANSITIONING FROM ELEMENTARY TO
SECONDARY SCHOOLS WITHIN SPECIALIZED CLASSES
Heather Boswell provided information pertaining to transitioning in response to this agenda
item related to classes for students with a developmental disability. Explanation was
provided around the planning that takes place for transitioning students currently in
specialized class placements as well as those children that would be new to our board.
Special Education Consultants work with the families through this process.
Referenced was Appendix 2 in the Board report and the number of students we anticipate
will be in specialized classes each year as we plan from year to year. Due to an increase in
the number of students in secondary developmental disability programs for September
2011, we will be opening an additional class at Centennial C.V.I., Orangeville D.S.S., and
Centre Wellington D.H.S.
THE SPECIAL EDUCATION REPORT
Sandra Szpular, Special Education Coordinator/Collaborative Projects Lead provided a
handout outlining the updates for the Special Education Report – April 2011. The updates
made to the Specialized Health Support Services in School Settings and the Provincial and
Demonstration Schools in Ontario were highlighted. Special Education Staff charts will be
updated to include the number of staff currently allocated. The Staff Professional
Development section has been revised and includes some of the in-services provided this
year. The report will also contain a link to the Accessibility Plan of the Upper Grand DSB.
Special Education Advisory Committee Minutes … Page 4
April 13, 2011
This evening, groups reviewed information about the Identification, Placement and Review
Committee (IPRC) and the Individual Education Plans (IEPs) different boards are using.
Each group was asked to provide feedback about the type of information they found most
helpful and suggestions for things they would like incorporated into the information around
the IPRC process and IEPs. The information gathered will be reviewed and the revisions
made will be presented at the May SEAC meeting.
OPEN FORUM
Sharon Dills reported that The Learning Disabilities Association of Wellington County has
developed a new brochure. Also referenced was “A DVD Movies Series” information sent to
members being presented by the Learning Disabilities Association of Wellington County at
ARC Industries.
Pat Hlushko noted the Autism Ontario Annual General Meeting is taking place on May 30th.
Also mentioned was that Kerry’s Place – Autism Services is presenting a four-part seminar
“Effective Supports for People with ASD and other Developmental Disabilities” being held on
June 2nd and 3rd in Woodbridge.
Katie Vanderyt referred to the VIEWS Fundraiser that was recently held.
Stacey Stevens spoke about the VOICE Conference on May 7th and the presentation
entitled “Brain Power – Evidence-Based Practice in Listening, Language and Literacy.”
Information will be sent to members by email.
Kim Brenner referred to Mental Health Week – May 1-7, 2011. The Parents for Children’s
Mental Heath Annual Conference is taking place on April 15th and 16th. Elizabeth Manley
will be a guest speaker at this event.
UPDATES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PROGRAM
Heather Boswell spoke about April 8th Professional Development Day session she attended
where Mary Susan Crawford, along with the Child & Youth Counsellors, presented the
Collaborative Problem Solving Model to the Educational Assistants. The afternoon
presentation focussed on Autism Spectrum Disorders.
The Special Education department is beginning work on the Educational Assistant (EA)
Allocations for September 2011. School Principals receive a projected target number of
EA’s based on the current allocation and school needs. This information is reviewed at a
Consultant Supported Team meeting in April or May. Any adjustments are made in June
with the help of Special Education Consultants and the Superintendents of Education. The
school actual EA allocation is confirmed for schools by mid July.
TRUSTEE REPORT
Trustee Waterston commented on the presentations made at the Program Committee
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April 13, 2011
Meeting held on April 5, 2011. These included The Food School – A Culinary Program at
Centre Wellington DHS, the School Food & Beverage Policy, the “How Sweet It Is” display
which shows the amount of sugar contained in different foods, and the Program Services–
Staff Web Portal featuring the Special Education department.
Heather Boswell mentioned that the School Food & Beverage Policy will be presented at an
upcoming SEAC meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Jennifer Waterston that the meeting be adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
The motion carried.