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The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Of the Ottawa Catholic School Board

The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Of the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Helene Lapointe-Jerome. Who are we?. Local association representatives

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The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Of the Ottawa Catholic School Board

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  1. The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)Of the Ottawa Catholic School Board Helene Lapointe-Jerome

  2. Who are we? • Local association representatives • Currently: Autism Ontario, Down Syndrome, Learning Disabilities, Voice for Hearing Impaired Children, Brain Injury, Communication Disorders • Community members: a representativefrom Ottawa Children’s Coordinated Access • Trustees: Betty-Ann Kealey, John Curry and Mark Mullan, Chair of the Board of Trustees

  3. Why was it created? • In 1980, SEAC Committees were established as part of a major revision to Ontario's education system and its support for students with special needs. • Every school board is required to have a SEAC committee

  4. OCSB Philosophy and Statistics …the Board actively promotes the goal of inclusive education… • “Inclusion means that students with special needs fully participate in the life of the school community. Our goal is wherever possible to educate individuals in regular classrooms with age-appropriate peers in their community schools. However, for those children whose complexity of needs exceeds these resources, a specialized placement may be necessary to accommodate learning needs. Therefore, a full range of placements and services is available to students.” • Currently 17% of the student population requires some special education assistance.

  5. Definitions… Special Education Program • An Individual Education Plan (IEP) containing specific objectives and an outline of special education services that meet the needs of the student. • The program includes placements such as: • Regular classroom with some kind of support • A special class called a system class where students with similar profiles may be grouped together to receive instruction. • Ottawa McHugh Education Centre (Section 23 classes) with 15 locations

  6. Definitions… Special Education Services • The facilities and resources, including support personnel and equipment, necessary for developing and implementing a Special Education Program. • Support personnel include: resource teachers, psychologists, behaviourists, speech and language pathologists, social workers, special education consultants, educational assistants…

  7. Definitions… Exceptional Student • A student who has been identified as having special needs according to one of the exceptionality categories as specified by the Ministry of Education

  8. Roles and responsibilities of SEAC members • SEAC members make recommendations to the Board on matters affecting the establishment, development and delivery of special education programs and services for exceptional students of the Board. • Members also represent SEAC on various Board committees such as Accessibility, Safe Schools and Budget.

  9. Roles and responsibilities of SEAC members • SEAC members have participated in: • Ministry of Education mandated review of IEPs • Ministry of Education’s Special Education funding model review • School Health Support Services (SHSS) review • Ministry mandated School Board Special Education program and Financial Review of 2008 • SEACs may also petition the Ministry of Education on items related to Special Education issues

  10. How does SEAC make recommendations? • We share the views of our individual associations. • We advocate as a group for all students with special needs. • We communicate concerns and questions we receive from parents.

  11. Items that are reviewed annually by SEAC • Information pertaining to the status of programs and services. • Special Education Report updates • Statistics regarding EQAO results for students with special needs. • Expulsions and suspensions for students with special needs. • Board Improvement Plan for Student Achievement (BIPSA) for students with special needs.

  12. Items that are reviewed annually by SEAC • Special Education Budget • System Class movements

  13. How can SEAC members help parents? • We listen to concerns • Act as a resource • Offer support and guidance • Have a SEAC presence at all CSPA activities • Parenting Now workshops • Director’s Forum

  14. Meetings • Typically on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM, in the OCSB Board Room. • Parents are welcome to attend as observers. • Parents may contact a SEAC member if they have any issues they would like discussed at a SEAC meeting. • Agendas and minutes are posted on the OCSB website under SEAC.

  15. Where to find more information… About special education • www.ocsb.ca → Our Board →Departments →Special Education • The Special Education Report • Parent Guide to Special Education About the OCSB SEAC • www.ocsb.ca → Our Board →Our Committees →Special Education Advisory Committee • Check out the Web Links and Resources at the bottom of the SEAC page

  16. The Special Education Review • looking at best practices and efficiencies around the delivery of programs and services • looking at how the delivery of programs and services has changed in recent years as well as how they are being delivered at the present time. • surveys will be prepared for various stakeholders • surveys will be ready December or January • preliminary recommendations to go to the Board in March of 2014

  17. How to contact a SEAC member • Through Student Services: Student.Services@ocsb.ca and ask to speak to specific SEAC member or the Chair • Through the individual associations • If you have difficulty contacting the SEAC member of your choice, you may email me h.lapointe.jerome@gmail.com • You may also contact a trustee

  18. What would parents like to know more about? • At most Parenting Now workshops there has been a session on the IEP for parents • Anything else? Some ideas… • How to navigate the Special education system • How to advocate for your child • Conflict resolution • Socialization issues for children with special needs

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