arents of children with autism say School District 43 didn't give them a fair hearing when it declined their proposal for new training requirements for special education assistants (SEAs).
Several parents seeking applied behaviour analysis (ABA) training for special education assistants who work with children with autism walked out of board of education meeting Tuesday, some in tears.
At issue was the board's refusal to require ABA training for SEAs or to match them one-on-one with students with autism. Board chair Melissa Hyndes read out a letter that said the district already has trained teachers working with autistic students, whose graduation rates are higher than the provincial average.
In the letter, Hyndes suggested parents get involved with the district's student services advisory committee to talk out their issues, a position backed by assistant superintendent Reno Ciolfi in later conversation with parents.
NO FOLLOW UP
But the parents say the district failed to follow up their concerns or make inquiries about a proposal they say was heavily backed up by research nor did the board reply to emails or provide parents with a written response prior to the meeting.
According to Hyndes, requiring SEAs to have specialized training and matching them with students would be a "significant departure" from current practices and would have a "significant cost" to the district.
The parents say they only wanted to begin a "conversation" and to collaborate on a program that could mirror similar programs, such as one in Surrey school district.
Parent Jodie Wickens said the program would not cost the district any additional money but would provide better supports and educational outcomes for her son and other people's children.
"Without people whose training is on the specific home program [that parents pay for a with a provincial subsidy], our children are not getting an education at all," Wickens said.
Applied behaviour analysis is the process of breaking tasks into small, teachable parts and then reinforcing the learning. According to research provided by the group, is better than more generalized programming for improving autistic students' reading, academic, social communication and adaptive living skills.
Other groups, however, promote alternative therapies while the district is sticking to its Coquitlam autism spectrum team to provide supports to students with autism.
PARENTS INVITED
The provincial government will pay $22,000 a year for children up to six years of age for intervention services from a registry of service providers, and up to $6,000 per year for children from six to 18 years.
Parents belonging to the Tri-City ABA Neighbourhood Network say ABA is most effective for their children and want the program they use at home to continue in school so they won't lose the benefits. Today, Thursday, they were expected to take their concerns to a Vancouver radio show and are hosting a workshop on Sept. 21 at the Surrey SFU campus.
The group also wants to wants to meet one-on-one with Ciolfi, who heads up the student' services department, Wickens told The Tri-City News.
According to Ciolfi, the district has developed its autism programs over the years with the input of parents and teachers, and they are "evidenced-based" and "well-established." He told the parents a representative from their group would be welcome on the committee.
But outside the board meeting, parents were heated in their frustration with the board's response. Nancy Walton said an "autism bubble" is coming as students diagnosed with autism are now just moving through the system, so the district's claims of high graduation rates aren't applicable.
