ARCH Disability Law Centre, in partnership with Community Living Ontario, Inclusive Education Canada, the University of Western Ontario, and Brock University, is announcing the launch of new research titled “If Inclusion Means Everyone, Why Not Me?”. We are currently conducting a survey on the experiences of students with intellectual disabilities in Ontario’s public school system. The focus of this survey is on many of the current practices and barriers related to inclusive education.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

In Ontario, there are 72 Boards of Education. Seven of those boards operate fully segregated schools for children who have a disability. In the remaining school boards, a significant number (approximately 80 – 85%) continue to segregate students through self-contained classes where they spend the majority of the day.

HOW CAN YOU HELP? 

We would ask that you lend your support to this initiative either by filling out the survey if it applies to your family and by sharing it with your networks. The greater the participation in this survey, the more we will be able to illuminate the barriers to inclusion. If you wish to participate, please complete a short survey that asks questions about your child’s experiences in school. The survey will take 20-30 minutes to complete. You will have a month to complete the survey on the same computer. Once it has been submitted, you cannot redo the survey. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Amina Patel, Assistant Project Coordinator, Community Development, Community Living Ontario at 416-447-4348 ext. 241 or [email protected].

The survey can be completed here:

https://uwo.eu.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_250xUkF2YLFV0rj