Ontario Deaf Schools Staff Layoffs

The layoff of 56 full-time staff from Ontario’s Provincial Schools will hurt the province’s most vulnerable students with disabilities and severely impact the families’ rights to accessible education.

TORONTO, Ontario -- Vulnerable students in Provincial Schools to suffer from layoffs. The Ministry is moving this work to contingent part-time workers, and away from support workers who have over 20 years’ experience and who have made significant impacts in the lives of parents and students with disabilities, Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President.



The layoff of 56 full-time staff from Ontario’s Provincial Schools will hurt the province’s most vulnerable students with disabilities and severely impact the families’ rights to accessible education. Ontario government reduces full-time workers who teach students with disabilities.



Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) said that the these students, who are Blind, Deaf, Deaf-Blind and learning disabled deserve far better from the Ministry of Education.



“The Ministry is moving this work to contingent part-time workers, and away from support workers who have over 20 years’ experience and who have made significant impacts in the lives of parents and students with disabilities,” Thomas said. “The move to part-time work will cheapen important programs that accommodate students in Ontario.



Meanwhile, full-time social workers, residence counsellors, maintenance workers and support staff will be forced out the door.” ... Read The Full Story.



A Hearing Mother Speaks out in Support of Deaf Children in Ontario:

Hi! My name is Jeanette and I am a mother. I have a Deaf son-he is 10 years old and he attends the school for the Deaf. I am not Deaf as you can tell because I am speaking but I am choosing to send out this message-MY message in a video format to plea to other parents like myself that have chosen to send their child to a Provincial School. I think it is time that we as a collective start a dialogue and have a discussion about important changes that will be coming down and have an impact on our children.



First of all, I just want to commend you on sending your child to a Deaf school because I am sure it wasn't an easy decision for you. I know first hand how difficult it must be to be hearing and send a child to a Deaf school and have them learn a different language probably different than the one you are speaking at home.



So, you are very brave and as I, I said I know how it feels because I do have a Deaf child attending the school for the Deaf and actually living... Read More.



Find more at http://deafontario.ca



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Ontario Deaf Schools Staff Layoffs



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