Mother speaking out after autistic son’s support at school ends

CITYnews halifax / By Parker MacFarlane

A Halifax mother is voicing her concerns about what recent changes to support levels will mean for her son in the fall.

Jessica Slack tells CityNews Halifax that her son, Kaleb, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD and a sleep disorder that requires support from an Educational Program Assistant (EPA) while in the classroom.

However, in a meeting with the principal and learning centre teacher at her son’s school on May 25, Slack was told her son would no longer have a designated EPA upon his return to school in the fall, despite her concerns that this would impact his ability to learn.

“I’m concerned about the lack of support he’s going to get from the EPAs, I’m concerned about them not allowing outside professionals to help Kaleb and other families that are struggling to access support,” Slack said in an interview.

She says Kaleb works closely with a private occupational therapist outside of school, who is willing to collaborate with the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) but was denied permission to provide support in the school environment.

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These conversations have Slack asking what the fall semester will look like for her family and others.

In a statement to CityNews Halifax, HRCE Communications Officer Lindsey Bunin said while she couldn’t comment on specific cases, school EPA allocations change every year according to student needs and populations, with support levels changing as students move toward independence.

Bunin also said HRCE policy does not allow for outside professionals to come into the school environment.

“HRCE schools do not have outside professionals work in schools during instructional time for a variety of reasons, including safety requirements, space constraints and the potential disruption to learning that can be created by outside visitors,” she explained.

Slack says recent changes have already caused disruption for Kaleb in the classroom, and her employment is being impacted as she often has to leave work unexpectedly.

“More importantly, Kaleb’s educational, emotional, and developmental needs are not being met,” Slack said. “He deserves the opportunity to learn in a supportive and inclusive environment that recognizes his individual needs and provides him with the tools necessary to succeed.”

Slack encourages parents who are concerned about what recent budget cuts could mean for their children in the classroom to reach out to their children’s schools to discuss available supports and services.