Special Education
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Special Education Advisory Committee - SEAC
AutismONTARIO has SEAC Reps advising both school boards in York Region. Your SEAC Reps and their alternates act as liaison between our chapter and the public and separate school boards. SEAC Reps are your voice for students living with ASDs.
York Region District School Board Special Education Advisory Committee
Your SEAC Reps: Micole Ongman, Kathryn Everest [alternate]
York Catholic District School Board Special Education Advisory Committee
Your SEAC Reps: Cenza Newton, Simone Hubers [alternate]
Monthly Meetings: Your SEAC Reps attend board meetings every month, raising the issues which directly affect our autism community.
Role: to advise and influence local school boards on policies which directly affect students with ASDs
Goal: to identify and resolve issues in a timely and satisfactory manner, and to provide families with general advice and guidance on special education issues
Your SEAC Reps are Parents Too: SEAC is a Volunteer Position
As parent volunteers, your SEAC Reps dedicate many hours every month representing your issues to our school boards. General advice and guidance is provided through Chapter Information Evenings throughout the year. Specific issues will take a few days for a SEAC response.
Contact your SEAC Rep through your chapter : york@autismontario.com or by voicemail to 905-780-1590
Resources
'Navigating the Special Education System in Ontario - A Handbook for Parents of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders' A publication of AutismONTARIO, this hardcover three-ring binder is approximately 200 pages long and is available through our provincial office for $25.00/copy PLUS postage and handling. Save postage and handling costs by picking your copy up at any chapter meeting or workshop. Read more about our manuals.
SEAC Resources and Links, developed by Kathryn Everest, AutismONTARIO SEAC Rep., York Region District School Board. See Kathryn's web pages for links to important YRDSB and Ministry of Education documents:
Kathryn's SEAC Web Pages
Kathryn's 'Asperger Syndrome and Giftedness' Web Page
Safety Plan - a completed sample to incorporate into your child's IEP
Safety Plan template - a blank template to develop your own
Writing An Effective IEP (powerpoint)
York Region District School Board
Special Education Transition Planning Guide
Ministry of Education
The Individual Education Plan (IEP) Resource Guide
Supporting Seamless Transitions from AIP to school, February 2009
Appendix A. Supporting Students & Seamless Transitions
Transition Planning - A Resource Guide
Advocacy
Minister’s Advisory Council on Special Education - MACSE
MACSE identifies concerns in the delivery of special education programs and services for students with special needs and provides information, advice, and recommendations for ministry consideration; positive feedback and suggestions for improvement.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Representative on MACSE
Jennifer Cantello Daw
Manager, Quality Assurance
Geneva Centre for Autism
112 Merton Street
Toronto, ON, M4S 2Z8
(416) 322-7877 ext. 227
jcantello@autism.net
Note: Links in the following section will take you outside Autism Ontario's website.
Ask Lindsay Moir A broad range of articles in a Q&A format addressing topics of concern for parents.
Ontario Association of Education Advocates
School Advocacy Hamilton Resources website containing:
- Basic Advocacy Skills
- Special Education
- Suspensions & Expulsions
- Bullying
People for Education Check out their Annual Reports on Ontario's Public Schools; Special Education in Elementary Schools and Special Education in Secondary Schools