Dozens of concerned parents and students gathered outside the Red Deer office of Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange on Tuesday to voice their concerns over a lack of plans for students with complex learning needs when they return to class next month. (rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

By Sheldon Spackman

“Why are we never included?"

Protesters concerned with lack of plan for students with complex learning needs

Aug 18, 2020 | 3:23 PM

Dozens of concerned parents and students gathered outside Education Minister Adriana LaGrange’s Red Deer-North constituency office on Tuesday to highlight the need for a better relaunch plan for Alberta’s special needs students this fall.

Organized by Hold My Hand Alberta, spokesperson Shantel Sherwood says any plan for students with diverse learning needs can’t come soon enough.

“I was informed by my son’s principal that there will be a plan for the complex kids coming shortly,” says Sherwood. “Whether that’s going to be before the deadline that we were given to have our kids registered by Friday will be another story. It’s really hard to make a decision for our kids (on whether to return to class), when we don’t even have the information.”

Sherwood wonders if her three-year-old son, who is diabetic and faces other challenges including severe anxiety and severe sensory processing disorder, will be safe entering Pre-K next month.

“He will be going into a private program because all of the public programs are so full because of all the cuts they took. So now we have to pay even more just to get him support because he can’t go through the public school system because he wasn’t severe enough.”

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Sherwood, a former Red Deer resident, says Hold My Hand Alberta has nine “asks” of Alberta Education – among them being a delayed start to the school year.

She says Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) need to be done before their kids can return to class.

“We understand supports have been cut and there have been layoffs, but we just need a plan,” she points out. “We’re going in blind. Each public board must include an at-home learning plan for their special needs kids, as well as safety measures.”

Funding for student enrollment numbers is another budgetary concern that rally participants felt should not be impacted based on how many students return to school next month.

Adam Quraishi, who teaches in Airdrie, acknowledges it’s not easy to plan for students with complex learning needs, noting each one is different and unique.

“Special needs kids, their EA’s (Educational Assistants) were released off contract, which means there’s no guarantee they get hired back,” says Quraishi. “Most of these issues that we’re dealing with today, aren’t just about cost, they’re about planning. With kids like these, what’s the cost ultimately to Albertans if we do nothing?”

With LaGrange at her Edmonton office on Tuesday, government officials offered a statement on her behalf.

“Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our staff and students has guided all decision-making around school re-entry since we first cancelled in-person classes in March,” wrote acting press secretary Ted Bauer. “We understand that Albertans want what is best for their children as they return to school this fall, and that is why we continue to follow the expert medical advice of our Chief Medical Officer of Health, who approved our school re-entry plan. The plan also has support from our school superintendents and school boards, and was developed in consultation with the education system.”

Bauer added that Alberta Education will continue to work with Dr. Hinshaw, the province’s chief medical health officer, to adjust guidelines as necessary.

Sherwood says parents of diverse learning needs students must also be treated as stakeholders and be involved in the plan-making process as well.

“Why are we never included? Why do you never see anything mentioned about children with disabilities, children with complex learning needs?” asks Sherwood. “We’re never brought in. As a person with autism myself, I find that is really upsetting to hear that nobody in our area is brought in. We’re not considered experts on the children that we represent.”