[FEAT BC Admin]

In this discussion area, please feel free to share your experience in implementing A.B.A. programs in the school system. We would particularly like to hear from those parents who converted their school teams to A.B.A. We’d like to hear the nightmares as well as the success stories.

Any insight that can be shared by school-based special education assistants to help parents would also be very meaningful.

Topic

[Khiat Kurniawan]

Hi There,

I am thinking to enroll my son in kinder garden to one of the three schools below. Does anyone have experience with any of these schools?

Suncrest, Burnaby
Chaffey-Burke, Burnaby
john knox, Burnaby

Please email to : indo.manna@gmail.com

Thanks.

[Luke’s mama]

Hello there,

anyone can share info or personal
experience regarding :

Gilpin Elementary
Brentwood Park Elementary
Parkcrest Elementary
Gilmore Community
Westridge School

pls email to: onesweetguy@shaw.ca

Thx and appreciate this much.

[A Father]

Private school/aids question

In case you want to email me directly regarding this, my email address is: rjsell@telus.net

Thank you!

[A Father]

Can the private school say/do this:

————————
"Just a point of clarification regarding the hours of the aides.
Because the aides are now contracted by the school directly, they are expected to come to work, whether or not your child is present at school. If your child is away sick, or for any other reason, we appreciate the notification, however the aide is still expected to come in to work."
————————-

I am worried because I know the school is also splitting the class in two and plans to have the two groups attend different days.

My questions therefore are:
1. Does my son's aid have to be at school when he is sick (not there)?
2. Can they ask for my son's aid to attend classes he is not in (after they split the class)?

I am guessing the answer is not but would really appreciate some references to legal rulings here.

Thanks!
Dad

[David Chan]

Hey all,

It's been a long time since I posted. Today, I thought I'd share, Mr. P and his sister both got their report cards today. The both did well, but really grades don't matter. Mr. P is in Grade 12 now, he is on an adapted program, he has and IEP which means he does regular curriculum (courses) but he gets to use adaptations. Like exam in library no time limit on exams, etc.

As it were, he will graduate with a Dogwood, which is the standard matriculation in British Columbia.

I'm writing this for all the folks that are struggling in the elementary school placement right now. Wanted to let you guys know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It's not about grades, or dogwoods, it's about inclusion.

He is a member of his grad class, and for the most part, he peers understand, appreciates his challenges and differences.

To address the elephant in the room, This student didn't attend school in grade two, he was working at home with his team 6 hours a day 6 days a week.

He enrolled in a grade 3 class with proper support, and the rest as it were is History. There's a lot more history to make yet, and it's a long road ahead.

I think the important thing to remember is not to give up, and not to settle for what is on offer. Always remember, as with ABA THERAPY. NO THERAPY is better that BAD THERAPY. The corollary is also true.

NO SCHOOL is better than BAD SCHOOL. I do appreciate the time and financial limitations that everyone has, but there is the HEWKO decision now, and that's a lot more than we had all those years ago.

I think that we as a collective can not let school districts marginalize our children by attrition. The truth is that we as concerned parents will not fight with school districts forever, our children's time can not be retrieved. So as responsible parents we will find alternatives for our children, whether it is an independent school, or home schooling.

I think the challenge is to make school districts realize that our students are assets in the school and not liabilities. This no resources, your kids are a burden discussion is old and frankly lame.

As an immigrant child from Hong Kong, my parents,always told me," You speak English, you can do, faster and better"

So I think it's time for all you English, Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi, French, Croation, Serbian, Estonian, Russian, Chinese speakers, and (whoever else I forgot) who are all waaaaaaay more clever than me, so get out there

do faster, but more importantly DO BETTER.

A long time a ago I found this quote:

"if you will it, it is no dream"
Theodor Herzl

So everyone go out there and "Will it"

Fight the good fight,

Dave
Mr. P's Dad

[Luke’s mama]

Hello everybody,

I'm looking for Dawn Steele?

Does anyone have contact numbers for Dawn?

If you are reading this Dawn, please get a hold of me. I sent you an email from my gmail but here is my alternate email to reach me.

onesweetguy@shaw.ca

[Luke’s mama]

Does anyone have experience to share about Brentwood Park School in Burnaby?

Please email to : trinitygrace@shaw.ca

Thanks.

[Jaswant Singh]

Re: Help with the VSB

My apologies for forgetting to include my email address. Responses may be sent to cdranu@yahoo.com

Thank you again.
– jaswant

[Jaswant Singh]

To all parents who are familiar with navigating the Vancouver School Board system: My 7 year old son and I really need YOUR HELP and guidance.

We have tried working with the VSB system and their generic SSW support personnel but we have achieved minimal success. To date, despite my son being officially registered as a full-day Grade 1 student, the school has kept him from attending even until noon. Since September, he has been attending only until recess each morning (~quarter days). The exception occurred last week when the regular SSW was away sick for a week and they brought in a substitute SSW who then supported my son until noon. Fortunately, the school also allowed my Lead therapist to visit at the same time and she helped the substitute SSW establish an effective routine. My son’s teacher acknowledges that this one week was a very successful one for my son. I now know that my son can be productively engaged in educational activities at school when given the right support. I have tried working with the principal on this issue but he appears unwilling to acknowledge and accommodate the fact that his cadre of SSWs are ill-equipped to effectively support my son.

What do I need to do to bring about a change that will see my son properly supported at school preferably by one of my ABA therapists? I know that at least one other parent has successfully managed to do this. Who should I talk to next at the VSB if I can’t get anywhere with the school principal? Please advise. I would so very much appreciate your help with this. I feel so stressed, hurt, angry and outraged by how my son has been marginalized and "written-off" by his school that I have to do something about it. Thank you again.

Sincerely,
Jaswant Ranu

PS. I recall coming across a quote a few years back that said something to the effect that "the true measure of a democracy is in its treatment of its most disadvantaged citizens." Does anyone know who said this and what were the actual words?? I'd like to use this statement in the letters that I am preparing to send. Thanks again.

[Luke’s mama]

Anyone know the difference to the Levels in the school district Education Assistants?

Usually they assign Level 2 for Autism (Category G)
funding but I find that Level 3 Aides are for intense behavior intervention but the government only allots for half the $16,000 that is paid to the Category G students. Not that the money goes to our kids directly as it is for the school, please advise.

Sue

[Author]

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