Parents of special needs children face a jumble of services - one they often have to navigate alone.

We’re struggling now to find out what’s out there,” said Jeff Kilgour. He and partner Wendy Taylor are parents of a six-year-old girl with disabilities.

From the day she was born, it has been a fight to connect with resources to help her daughter, says Taylor.  “You have to learn everything yourself.”

Now with their daughter entering the school system, they have a whole new learning curve ahead.

And the St. James couple can expect a few curve balls along the way.

Lisa (not her real name) has spent “six long years” working to assure her daughter receives the education that benefits her.

She takes issue with the St. James School Division’s cluster school model for special needs children like her daughter.  Under the cluster school model, special needs students are directed to specific schools where programming is established to meet the needs of special needs students.

Cluster schools in the division include Strathmillan and Stevenson-Britannia elementary schools,  Bruce Middle School and John Taylor Collegiate.

‘More Options’

“If it was an open policy, parents would have more options, says Lisa.

It’s important to her that her daughter stay with the friends she’s known from the time she attends storytime sessions at the local library as a two-year old.

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Her daughter moves to middle school next year, and Lisa must decide if she will join most of her classmates at the school located closer to her home, or make the move to the cluster school

Socially, I think it’s best if she stays with the kids she knows,” says Lisa, adding that she also wants her daughter to receive the education that will help her as she makes her way in life.

‘Options Open’

“She has dreams for what she wants to do in life.  We’ve got to keep the options open.”

St. James school division trustee Bruce Alexander says the cluster program is “more efficient and effective” versus a mainstreaming program.

He says the specialists spend less time travelling from school to school, resulting in more time working with students.

Alexander added the cluster model results in a lower cost per pupil than mainstreaming. The province currently funds students at three levels, based on the students needs. The funds do not cover the actual cost of educating students, with the balance falling on local school divisions, he says.

The cluster schools provide opportunities for children to be integrated into regular classes.  “It’s not something that’s done in an arbitrary way,” says Alexander.

Citing Strathmillan school as an example, Alexander says he is impressed by what takes place in the classroom thanks to dedicated teachers and specialists.

“I’ve had many compliments on what takes place there.”

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