Special Education Programs and Services

Learning Support program

Our tiered Learning Support program is designed to:

• Provide academic supports to elementary and secondary students with learning difficulties
• Provide support to teachers in a consultative model or work directly with students for blocks of time, either in a classroom or alternative environment
• Provide consultation and resource support to classroom teachers, ensuring students are receiving appropriate accommodations and differentiated instruction

Reaching Individual Success and Excellence (RISE) program

The Reaching Individual Success and Excellence (RISE) program is a partially integrated special education classroom within their home school. Designed to:

• Support students with a designated exceptionality as determined by an Identification Placement and Review Committee (IPRC)
• The focus is on Language Arts and Math
• Provide individualized programming which is uniquely suited to each student's strengths and needs

My Achievement Pathway to Success (MAPS) program

The My Achievement Pathway to Success (MAPS) program is designed to:

• Support students with a designated exceptionality as determined by an Identification Placement and Review Committee (IPRC)
• Support students in achieving an Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC)
• Explore work opportunities and community-based experiences
• Support transition planning for life in the community after secondary school is completed
• Assist students in developing daily living and social skills
• Help students achieve their full potential as independent adults

Giving Attention to Individual Needs and Strengths (GAINS) program

The Giving Attention to Individual Needs and Strengths (GAINS) program is a system placement in a fully self-contained special education classroom with a focus on the following domains: literacy, numeracy, physical, social emotional, communication and self-help. It is designed to:

• Support students with a designated exceptionality as determined by an Identification Placement and Review Committee (IPRC)
• Provide individualized programming which is uniquely suited to each student's strengths and needs
• Provide appropriate opportunities for integration within the school
• Help students achieve their full potential

Skills to Enhance Personal Success (STEPS) program

The Skills to Enhance Personal Success (STEPS) program is system placement in a fully self-contained special education classroom with a focus on non-credit bearing courses (K-courses). Designed to:

• Support students with a designated exceptionality as determined by an Identification Placement and Review Committee (IPRC)
• Explore work opportunities and community-based experiences where appropriate
• Support transition planning for life in the community after secondary school is completed
• Individualized programming which is uniquely suited to each student's strengths and needs
• Provide opportunities for integration within the school where appropriate
• Help students achieve their full potential

Stepping In

Stepping In is a system placement designed for students with complex special needs, including ASD, that requires a highly supported alternative learning environment with intensive services from a multi-disciplinary team, where needs and programming cannot be met in a STEPS program. 

Education Coordinator services

Our Education Coordinator services are delivered by teachers who have additional qualifications in special education and have direct classroom experience working with a variety of student needs.

Coordinators are assigned to GECDSB schools to provide continuous support, facilitation and communication among parents, school and community partners. They enhance learning outcomes for students, promote services and programs, and ensure each student receives the supports they need to succeed.

Itinerant Teacher services

Our Itinerant Teacher services work collaboratively with classroom teachers, educational support staff, administration, families and community partners to provide educational instruction, collaboration and strategies for students who are identified as blind/low vision or deaf and hard of hearing.

Speech and Language Pathology services

Our Speech and Language Pathology services provide consultation, direct intervention and collaboration in helping students when they're experiencing difficulties in language, speech-sound production, social skills, voice, resonance, fluency and stuttering based on the tiered model. Our staff also provide families and staff with information regarding a student's communication profile and discuss methods for helping students succeed in the classroom.

Psychological services

GECDSB's Psychological services staff work in partnership with administration, school based teams and community partners to enhance student learning, growth and development.

Staff collaborate to help students who are experiencing academic, adaptive, social or personal adjustment difficulties at school. They provide consultation, psychological assessments, intervention and professional development services to students, families and staff based on the tiered model.

Social Work and Attendance Counselling services

Our Social Work and Attendance Counselling services assist students and families in areas such as:

• Persistent absenteeism
• Anxiety-related concerns
• Mood-related concerns
• Personal adjustment
• Individual crisis
• Traumatic response
• Family adjustment

Behaviour Support Services

Our Behaviour Support services build staff capacity and assist students experiencing issues affecting their success at school, including:

• Difficulty adapting to the learning environment
• Behaviour that interferes with learning
• Behaviour that poses a risk to the students or others in the classroom environment
• Transitional difficulties
• Self-regulation challenges
• Social skills difficulties

School-Based Rehabilitation services

The John McGivney Children's Centre provides School-Based Rehabilitation services to the GECDSB, ensuring that children with rehabilitation needs can attend school, participate in school activities and receive academic instruction.

Services may include:

• Short-term consultation
• Training and intervention for specific rehabilitation needs
• Therapy provided in the school setting, includes:
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Speech and Language Pathology