issues: inclusive education

Education > Current Issues

College of New Caledonia in Prince George Announces

Continuation of Adult Special Education Programs

After cutting Adult Special Education (ASE) programs in the face of budget shortfalls, College of New Caledonia (CNC) President John Bowman announced on May 23 that CNC will continue to deliver employment preparation programming for people with learning difficulties and developmental disabilities in the coming year at the Prince George campus. The new program will enroll students in September 2008, and will address the needs of students from both the Job Education and Training (JET) and TARGET (Techniques for Access, Reaching Goals and Employment Training), two programs that were cut in March. Click here to read the CNC Media Release.

Douglas College Board Saves Two ASE Programs

The Douglas College Board decided at a meeting on April 15th to maintain funding in the 2008/09 year for the Customer Service and Cashier Training Program and the Transitions Pilot Project. Following delegations from BCACL and other community groups, the Board instructed the College to use emergency funds to pay for these programs in the coming year. Click here to read the Douglas College Press Release.

Further cuts made to Adult Special Education programs in BC

The Douglas College Board of Directors in the Lower Mainland recently announced the elimination of three of its ASE programs, including the Transitions Program, the Customer Service and Cashier Training Program, and the Opportunities Enabled Progam.

BCACL is alarmed by the board's decision and believes that the elimination of post secondary opportunities for students with developmental disabilities has extremely negative impacts on both community inclusion and inclusive education. BCACL representatives will be addressing the Douglas College Board of Directors at its public meeting on May 15. BCACL representatives will also be meeting with the Minister of Advanced Education in the near future to voice our concerns.

Click here to read BCACL's letter to the Hon. Murray Coell, Minister of Advanced Education
Click here to read BCACL's letter to Andrew Taylor, Douglas College Board Chair
Click here to read media coverage around the issue

We believe that the suspension of ASE programs denies access to post secondary education based on disability and we are worried this trend will spread to post secondary institutions throughout the province. If this is happening in your community, we would like to know. Please contact Karen Delong, at BCACL: kdelong@bcacl.org. Or phone: (604) 777-9100.

BCACL responds to cuts to the Adult Special Education programs at the College of New Caledonia - March 19, 2008

The College of New Caledonia (CNC) in Prince George recently announced major cuts to many of its programs, including four Adult Special Education (ASE) progams. Students, teachers and community members rallied outside the college on March 19th to oppose the cuts. The ASE cuts were particularly upsetting to the community, prompting numerous letters to the editor of the Prince George Citizen. BCACL has responded to the cuts by writing a letter to John Bowman, President of the College of New Caledonia.

Click here to read BCACL's letter dated March 19, 2008 to John Bowman, President of the College of New Caledonia.
Click here to read media coverage around the issue.

Successful community campaign ensures inclusion - October 17, 2007

After the community campaign that brought inclusive education back on the school board table, The Terrace Standard ran a story on the school board meeting and the rally. Click here to read the article.

The weekly newspaper also published a number of letters that people and oragnizations had written when the plans for the segregated school first came out.

Click here to read BCACL's letter to the editor, published October 17, 2007.
Click here to read a letter from TDCSS's Choices Commuity Living Program, published October 17, 2007.
Click here to read another letter opposing the plan, published October 17, 2007.
Click here to read letters published October 24, 2007.

Terrace community rallies together - October 10, 2007

In a demonstration of community spirit in action, supporters of inclusion in Terrace came together to oppose the plan to use an unoccupied school building to create a segregated school for 'identified" and 'special needs' students. The grassroots strength of the community won a victory for inclusive education.

Letters were written to the editor, emails were sent out, people gathered together and marched to the School Board education Committee meeting. The protests were a resounding success and the committee (including the trustee who put forward the proposal) unanimously rejected the motion to create a separate school for children with special needs. Kudos to everyone who participated and shared the spirit of inclusion during Community Living Month!

Click here to read comments presented to the education commitee from self advocates from Terrace & District Community Services Society.

Click here to read a description of the evening and see some pictures, from Chris Arnold.

Terrace Standard Editorial - October 3, 2007

The Terrace Standard published an editorial on October 3, 2007, suggesting that the plans for the segregated school are "Worth a Look".

Terrace Segregated school plan - September 26, 2007

A Terrace school board trustee said that he plans to use an unoccupied school building to create a new segregated school for 'identified' and 'special needs' students. BCACL wrote a letter to the editor in response to the plans quoted in the article and also encouraged Terrace families to write to the school board and the newspapers.

Click here to read the article published on September 26th in the Terrace Standard about the plans.
Click here to read BCACL's letter to the editor on September 28th.

BCACL's Letter to Minister Bond

July 2007

BCACL met with Education Minister Shirley Bond in late June to get more information and express our concerns about her plans for "model schools" for students with special needs. We were glad to hear that the ministry does not at this time have any further developed plans for a model school or program for children with developmental disabilities. Click here to read the letter that BCACL wrote to Minister Bond after their meeting.

Report on Discussions of public forum on "model schools"

June 2007

Click here to read a thematic summary of the public meeting organized by concerned parents in Vancouver to discuss concerns about the Education Minister's plans to establish provincial schools for students with unique learning needs.

May 18, 2007
Click here for a detailed report of discussions at the public forum on provincial model schools, which several Vancouver parents/public education advocates organized on May 2, 2007. More information is available on this website: www.friendsofpubliceducation.blogspot.com.

Public Meeting about "model schools"

Provincial "Model” Schools: What do they mean for our children's education? May 2, 2007 at 7:30 pm at the Vancouver Public Library, Main Branch - Peter Kaye Room. A public discussion on the implications and significance of the new proposed schools. The format will be a panel followed by open discussion, moderated by Adrienne Montani, provincial coordinator of the First Call Child & Youth Advocacy Coalition and former Vancouver School Board Chair. For further information contact (604) 876-4123 or (604) 874-1416 or visit www.friendsofpubliceducation.blogspot.com. Click here for flyer.

Record of Session

Record of Session: Consultation with Parents about Provincial School for Students with ASD held on Friday, March 16, 2007.
This document provides a record of a consultation session held with parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The Ministry of Education hosted this session in order to solicit the views of parents with respect to a possible provincial school dedicated to students with ASD.

Email Campaign

To all those who are concerned about the future of Inclusive Education in BC - March 9, 2007

As many of you know, the Ministry of Education recently announced that it is planning to open "model schools” for students with special needs. Further, on March 6, 2007, the Vancouver Sun published an editorial supporting the notion of model schools and arguing against "forced integration.” This is a profoundly concerning direction that is a very real threat to good quality, inclusive education for students in BC.

We have been responding to the concerns we have been hearing from parents, family members, teachers and friends of people with developmental disabilities. We have written two letters to editors, alerted the media, sent an urgent letter to Minister Bond, attended meetings of concerned individuals and spent time sharing concerns and thoughts.

But that isn't enough. It is important that the Ministry hears directly from family members about their disappointment regarding this move to segregated schooling for students with developmental disabilities. Government responds to parents - you can help!

If you believe that inclusive education is important, if you believe that all students should be welcomed and appropriately supported in their schools, if you believe that it is wrong to go back to the times of segregated schooling - do send an email or write a letter to the Minister of Education - Honorable Shirley Bond, your MLA, your school board, and your local media.

Click here for some key points that might assist you with your messages

Please feel free to contact us and to copy us on any communications. We will keep our website up to date with information. Please circulate this to your contacts.

Click on the following link to find your MLA - MLA Finder