LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD



SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE



Thursday
Wallaceburg District Secondary School
19 00 hours

2003 04 24
Library
(7:00 p.m.)

 

 

M I N U T E S

 

 

PRESENT:
Rose Gallaway (for Jennifer Adam), St. Clair Child and Youth Services


Jenny Greensmith, Pathways Health Centre for Children


Norma Hills, Sarnia & District Association for Community Living


Marion Lennan, Lambton County Developmental Services


Duncan Longwell, Trustee (Chair)


Graham McIntyre, Trustee


Sharon Nickerson, Member "at large"


Donna Scherer, Learning Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent


Ted Scott, Member "at large" (Vice-Chair)


Jane Wright, Community Living Chatham-Kent




REGRETS:
Wenda Vallee, Autism Society of Ontario


Veronica Vaughan, Wallaceburg & Sydenham District Association for Community

Living




RESOURCE
Warren Kennedy, Superintendent of Education

STAFF:
Deb Ellacott and Denise Emery, Special Education Co-ordinators

 

*********************************************************************************

 

1.0
CALL TO ORDER - 7:03 p.m.

 

 

2.0
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2003 03 27

 

The Minutes of 2003 03 27 were approved as written.

 

 

3.0
BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES

J. Wright suggested that committee members planning the Work Experience Program at St. Clair College be invited to attend the "Best Buddies" presentation to Principals. W. Kennedy indicated that arrangements could be made to invite Community College representatives to the "Best Buddies" presentation.

 

 

4.0
PRESENTATIONS

4.1
Speech and Language Program Review Committee Recommendations

The Speech and Language Program Review Committee presented their findings and recommendations to SEAC. Speech and Language Program Review Committee Members included:

· Deb Ellacott, Special Education Co-ordinator

· Jackie Alliet, Parent

· Linda Boire, Itinerant Resource Teacher for High Needs

· Glenda Ebert, SWO Speech Services Group

· Jenny Greensmith, Pathways Health Centre for Children

· Erica Hazzard, Speech Language Pathologist

· John Keech, Principal

· Amelia Morrison, Prism Centre for Audiology and Children's Rehabilitation

· Susan Ritchie, Speech Language Pathologist

 

D. Ellacott distributed a written report from the Committee and outlined the process followed during the review.

 

S. Ritchie reported on the results of the questionnaire which received a 30% response rate from parents and a 41% response rate from staff.

 

G. Ebert and E. Hazzard presented the recommendations:

 

1. Improve communication with both schools and parents regarding the programming and progress of students:

discussion with resource teacher
discussion with classroom teacher
ongoing update for parents.
2. Provide increased opportunity for professional development for teachers regarding procedures for referral and possible strategies and interventions.

3. Conduct annual information sharing meetings with other agencies:

discussion of referrals and services
professional development opportunities.
4. Initiate the development of a language based curriculum for use with students with developmental delays and other significant language impairments.

5. Develop a section for the Special Education Handbook that outlines more clearly the procedures for referral and the services offered by the Speech/Language Department.

6. Increase the emphasis on a multidisciplinary team approach in service delivery.

7. Provide additional supports to children having augmentative communication needs through the development of curriculum materials, programming strategies and access to augmentative communication expertise.

8. Ensure that schools establish a schedule and contact person to co-ordinate space availability for itinerant services: speech and language, outside agency supports (CCAC).

 

SEAC was provided with the opportunity to ask questions.

 

SEAC supported the recommendations which will be reported to the Board.





4.2
Autism/PDD Transition Committee Progress Report

D. Emery explained that one of the recommendations from the Autism/PDD Program Review was to establish an on-going Transition Committee. D. Emery reported that the "Autism/PDD Transition Committee" was struck in the Fall of 2002 to consider the effective transition of programs and services for students with autism from pre-school programs to school entry, from one setting to another (class to class, change of placement or school, etc.), from elementary to secondary school, and from school to work or post-secondary education. The focus this year was to develop sound practices and procedures for a successful entry to school from a pre-school setting. As the protocols were developed it was discovered that the practices for pre-school pupils could be adapted for all areas of transition. The Committee also developed a brochure entitled: Transitional Supports for Autistic Students. Copies were distributed to SEAC.

 

The Autism/PDD Transition Committee will continue to meet on an ongoing basis.

 

 

5.0
SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN

5.1

Section 2.13 – Equipment

The revised version of Section 2.13 of the Special Education Plan, Equipment, was reviewed.

 

W. Kennedy suggested several changes to the Draft with no objections from SEAC.

 

A complete DRAFT version of the Special Education Plan will be distributed for the May SEAC meeting.

 

J. Greensmith reported that, on occasion, staff from the Pathways Health Centre for Children are contacted inappropriately to prepare written recommendations for ISA 1 equipment claims.

5.2

Section 2.14 - Accessibility of School Buildings

D. Ellacott explained that we are waiting for information from our Building Services Department and the "Accessibility Working Group" (related to the Ontarians with Disabilities Act) prior to the revision of Section 2.14: Accessibility of School Buildings. It is hoped that a revised version of the this section will be ready for the DRAFT Special Education Plan that will be distributed for the May SEAC meeting.

 

A. Kuhn mentioned that School Councils are consulted during the capital improvements to schools process.

5.3

Section 2.15 - Transportation

 

Section 2.15 of the Special Education Plan, Transportation, was reviewed.

 

T. Scott suggested that any training that bus drivers may receive related to transporting special needs students be added to this section.

5.4

Section 3 - The Board's Special Education Advisory Committee

 

Section 3 of the Special Education Plan, The Board's Special Education Advisory Committee, was reviewed.

 

Changes will be made under the heading of “Ways SEAC has fulfilled its roles and responsibilities”:

· Remove the third bullet: "attending presentations such as "Legal Issues"…"

· Add a bullet: "recommending additional staffing"

 

The Appendices will also be updated to reflect current SEAC membership, etc.

5.5

Section 4 - Co-ordination of Services with Other Ministries or Agencies

 

Section 4 of the Special Education Plan, Co-ordination of Services with Other Ministries or Agencies, was reviewed.

 

Suggested Changes:

· 1st Paragraph, 2nd Sentence, change to read "…community agencies--e.g., Children's Treatment Centres, a meeting…".

· Under the heading of "Persons responsible for successful admission" change: i.e. Psychologist to e.g., Psychometrist.

· Updates will be made under the "Liaison with Community Agencies" heading.

· Appendices will be updated.

5.6

Section 5 - Submission and Availability of School Board Plans

 

Appropriate revisions will be made to Section 5.

 

 

6.0
SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES INTERNAL REVIEW REPORT

W. Kennedy reported that he received feedback from J. Greensmith and outlined the changes he would be making to "Programs for Speech and Language" on Page 28 of the Report, based on her suggestions.

 

J. Wright reported that she provided a copy of the Report to Community Living Chatham-Kent. Referring to Page 22 and 23 of the Report, "Programs and Services for Developmental Disabilities and Medically Fragile" they support a more inclusionary delivery model and suggested that transportation costs could be lowered if programs were provided in neighbourhood schools instead of creating additional self-contained classrooms.

 

W. Kennedy stated that he will be revising the Report based on recommendations received and will be submitting his Report to the Board during the budgetary process. W. Kennedy also informed SEAC that it has recently been learned that the ISA funding process will continue for the 2003-2004 school year.

 

 

7.0
CORRESPONDENCE - None.

 

 

8.0
ASSOCIATION REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS

N. Hills announced that May is Community Living Month and the Sarnia and District Association for Community Living will be hosting a variety of activities including a Walkathon, a Mayor’s Breakfast, and a Soup Luncheon.

 

J. Greensmith reported that the Pathways Health Centre for Children will be submitting a deficit budget to the Ministry of Health, which is a first for the Centre.

 

J. Wright explained that Community Living Chatham-Kent were also hosting several activities to celebrate Community Living Month including their "Everybody" Campaign (meaning "everybody donates"). J. Wright is accepting donations for the campaign.

 

R. Gallaway reported on a Anger Management Group for children with dual diagnosis. St. Clair Child and Youth Services is sponsoring a Box Lunch Social on May 15, 2003.

 

D. Ellacott reported on past and future local special education related professional development activities:

· How Can I Help Students with Fine Motor Co-ordination Difficulties

· IPRC and IEP's for Gifted Students Enrichment Teachers

· Enrichment Networking

· Sensory Stimulation for Developmental/Physical Disabilities

· Tools for Psychological Assessments

· Recognizing Student Oppositional/Defiant Behaviour

· Visual Supports and Communication Skills

· Bullying

· Selective Mutism

· Transitional Strategies

· Early Intervention

· Augmentative Communication

· ADHD

· Accommodations and Modifications in the Regular Classroom

· Soar to Success

· How to Include Children with Physical Disabilities

 

D. Ellacott also brought a recent article that appeared in the Chatham Daily News to the attention of SEAC. The article describes a new program for "at-risk" students, operated jointly by Chatham-Kent Integrated Children's Services and the Lambton Kent District School Board.

 

W. Kennedy reported that the recently hired Early Intervention Teachers (13.0 F.T.E.) are currently assisting a total of 968 children in Grades K to 1.

 

 

9.0
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC

A. Kuhn described difficulty locating Special Education/SEAC information within the Board's new website. He suggested a link to Special Education/SEAC be established on the Board's Homepage.

 

 

10.0
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Superintendent of Business, Ron Andruchow, will be invited to the next meeting to provide an overview of the 2003-2004 Budget.

 

· Professional Development

· Booklet of Strategies, Accommodations, and Tips for all Exceptionalities

· Board Website Demonstration

· Kurzweil Software Demonstration

· Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA)

· Exceptionality Presentations

· Safe Schools Act and Its Effect on Exceptional Pupils

· Impact of Special Education Programming Changes and School Closures

· Link between IPRC, IEP, and Transition Plans, etc.

 

 

11.0
NEXT MEETING





Thursday, May 29, 2003


Wallaceburg District Secondary School - Library


7:00 p.m.

 

 

12.0
ADJOURNMENT - 9:12 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joan Sparks,


Recording Secretary.