
April 13, 2017 · 0 Comments
By Bill Rea
Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones last week called on Education Minister Mitzie Hunter to review special education funding, as recommended in the report released by the Ontario Autism Coalition.
“We’ve all heard about the challenges students with autism face when they transition into school,” Ms. Jones declared during Question Period in the legislature Tuesday. “They sit on a waiting list for a psychological assessment to get their individualized education plan, or an IEP, and even with an IEP, they wait for an educational assistant to support them in the classroom.”
Ms. Jones cited the report, which had been released earlier that day by the Autism Coalition, which recommended a review of special education, and asked for a commitment from Ms. Hunter to carry out the review, according to Hansard.
In replying, Ms. Hunter expressed appreciation for the work of the Coalition.
“Our government is moving forward with investments in autism services,” she said.
“We want to ensure that we strengthen our schools for children with special needs, and that’s exactly what we are doing,” she added. “In 2016, we announced that we would be investing an additional $500 million to improve autism services in Ontario. This school year, school boards are receiving more than $2.7 billion to support students with special education needs. Absolutely, there is more to be done, and that’s exactly what we’re focused on.”
Ms. Jones countered that the Coalition was doing good work, “but they are now looking to you for action.”
She pointed out there are currently some 20,000 students with autism attending public schools in Ontario.
“We all know that autism doesn’t end at five and it certainly doesn’t end at school,” she declared.
“It’s very difficult to listen to the opposition give advice on education when they left it in a complete mess,” Ms. Hunter shot back, adding more has to be done for students with special needs.
She pointed out the government has invested $77 million to strengthen school capacity in improving the learning environment for students with autism.
“I will continue to call on the government to provide the service children with autism and other exceptionalities in Ontario’s schools deserve,” Ms. Jones remarked later.