Toronto District School Board
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Special Education and Inclusion

TDSB Special Education & Inclusion Vision

The vision the Toronto District School Board’s (TDSB) Vision of Learning is that students with special education needs are welcomed, included and supported within well-resourced neighborhood schools. TDSB also recognizes that some students with unique strengths and needs may require more specialized or intensive programs and supports. It is our goal that these intensive support programs will be available in sites that are equitably located throughout the district. We are committed to make, where possible, facilities fully accessible to students, families, staff and community members. Policy on Accessible Education for Students with Disabilities.

Inclusion

“We will effectively integrate the voices, choices, abilities, and experiences of our students into our school programming [and] be more responsive to the strengths, interests, gifts, and lived realities of our students as we create and design our schools and classrooms” (TDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan).

The Special Education Department, in collaboration with all staff, is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. This includes our ongoing commitment to human rights, anti-oppression, equity, anti-ableism, and anti-racism. This commitment is aligned with the foundation of the TDSB Equity Policy and underpins all programming across all grade levels.

Expected Practices for Understanding, Addressing and Preventing Discrimination (accessible version) outlines for school administrators and staff, our professional, moral, and legal obligations to create equitable, safe, respectful, and inclusive spaces for all students, parents, and staff. We believe that inclusive education provides more opportunities for all students.

Parents/Guardians/Caregivers and Students

TDSB staff are committed to working collaboratively with parents/guardians/caregivers and students in a respectful and transparent way, and deeply value this partnership. We encourage parents/guardians/caregivers to approach their child’s teachers and principal to engage in discussions about their child in an ongoing manner. The sharing of information between families and school staff is critical to ensuring the success of each student.

Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)

The Ontario Education Act Regulation 464/97 defines the role of SEAC, whose responsibilities are to provide important advice on special education to the TDSB and to to make recommendations to the board on anything that  impacts the establishment, development and delivery of special education programs and services for exceptional pupils of the board. The TDSB values the recommendations put forward by SEAC, and takes recommendations under advisement. Staff continues to collaborate with SEAC to support students with special education needs.

To learn more about Special Education and Inclusion in the TDSB, please refer to the TDSB Special Education Plan.

To learn more about Special Education and Inclusion, visit the Ontario Ministry of Education website.