Education for all: Every child to have the right, to access all aspects of curricular and non-curricular activities regardless, of any difficulties or special needs.

The Education Act in Ontario guarantees a child's right to an appropriate education, regardless of any difficulties or special needs. We are requesting that the Government of Ontario enact rules and regulations that force Boards of Education to include the child's right to access all aspects of curricular and non-curricular activities regardless of any difficulties or special needs. "Education is central to the life of an individual in the community. It provides opportunities for personal, social, and academic growth and development. It sets the stage for later life experiences, most especially in employment. It is also an important venue for integration into the life of the community." Ontarians With Disabilities Act Children with special needs are facing barriers to access school activities, are often excluded due to their special needs or are led to failure as accommodations and supports are not provided for them to access school life. • Students with special needs, wishing to take an active part in the school’s music program are systematically eliminated as they are bussed and are thereby denied access and opportunity. • Students with special needs are left out the sports teams as they must follow busing rules. Even students who are in ride alone taxis are refused access. • Students are deliberately discouraged from being part of extra curricular activities as no support is offered for them to have a positive experience. • Students wishing to take summer school or attend summer camp activities sponsored by the Boards are told up front that there is no support, thereby restricting opportunity to only those who can financially supply their own workers. • Students with special needs are often left off of school field trips, class trips and outdoor education camps. • Students with special needs are often encouraged to select non credit bearing courses as there is a lack of trained support for them to be successful in the applied or academic streams, when if fact some may be quite successful if appropriate accommodations were put in place. We are calling for all children with special needs to be accepted to be full members and partners in their schools and community, be able to equally access curricular and non- curricular activities and that is to include: Sports clubs, Music, Drama and arts clubs, Social clubs, Social activities, parties, school trips, special curricular activities, summer school programs and camps offered by school boards etc. We call the Ministry of Education to make an immediate change to stop the indirect discrimination (1) of special needs children in our schools. Make our schools a place where there is “Education For All”. (1) Indirect discrimination means that a person does not get opportunities because of a barrier