Parents of medically fragile children are expressing disappointment and frustration as they find themselves unable to safely send their kids to school due to a lack of support staff and funding. This issue has intensified under the supervision of the Ontario provincial government, led by Premier Doug Ford, over the Toronto District School Board (TDSB).
Charlotte Schwartz, a parent of a 14-year-old boy named Isiah, highlights the challenges they face this school year. Isiah suffers from a rare disease that led to brain damage during infancy, resulting in significant developmental delays. Almost two weeks into the school year, he still does not have a permanent bus route, which is causing considerable disruption to his daily routine.
“Before, I could just blame the board, but now the province has so graciously stepped in to manage everything and look at the job that they’ve done with it so far. That feels like a joke,” says Schwartz. She emphasizes that sending a young child to school alone poses a safety issue, and notes that routine and consistency are critical for Isiah’s success.
According to Schwartz, the lack of transportation has already led to difficulties at school. “The day starts badly when it doesn’t start with the bus,” she explains. The inconsistent transportation has adversely affected Isiah’s ability to thrive at school.
This year marks a significant change for families with vulnerable children like Isiah’s, particularly as the Ford government has removed the powers of trustees at the TDSB and four other school boards. Schwartz comments, “The trustees have always been my best first line of defense.” The change has left parents feeling abandoned in their quest for support.
A recent survey by the Ontario Autism Coalition revealed that over 100,000 families with vulnerable children reached out to trustees for advocacy in the past year. Alarmingly, the survey also indicated that 20,000 children were unable to attend school due to a lack of special education resources.
“The government is more focused on removing trustees and building new schools, but they weren’t focused on the bones of the system.”
Amy McQuaid is another parent facing a similar plight with her five-year-old son, Charlie. As of today, Charlie has not been able to attend school for eight days due to the absence of one-to-one support necessary for his safety. Charlie, who has uncontrolled epilepsy and experiences seizures three to five times daily, requires a trained individual to assist him during school hours.
On the first day of school, McQuaid learned that there was no support staff available for Charlie, leaving her feeling worried for her son’s safety. “It’s scary, right? Because he needs someone that can be there that knows him, that’s trained with him, that can see and intervene when necessary,” she explains, expressing her concerns clearly.
McQuaid amplifies the frustrations felt by many parents, stating, “I think at the end of the day, people need to realize that the government has starved the system for so long that we’re all begging for scraps at this point and expecting it to be normal.” She is adamant that she will not accept insufficient resources when it comes to her child's well-being.
In light of these ongoing challenges, CityNews reached out to the Education Minister's office for comment but has yet to receive a response, leaving parents in the dark about potential solutions or changes to the current situation.
