Thread by @AllyGarbs

About six years ago, a parent of an older Autistic person approached me, she said, “your advocacy is great, but don’t burn yourself out, it’s been decades of passing the torch”. Admittedly, I brushed it off, this time will be different. I was wrong. 🧵 #nspoli

Over three years has passed since the Students First report on Inclusive Education was introduced. At the time it was launched, there was great hope things would finally be different. Students requiring accommodations would be prioritized. We were wrong.

Instead of staying focused on seeing the implementation of the inclusive recommendations through, out of NOWHERE the government of the day shifted gears and invested millions in introducing pre primary to the P-12 system.

For students and families of students who for years were left on the sidelines, it was a proverbial kick in the gut. A pointed reminder of where students with disabilities stand within our public school system.

At the time, I likened pre-primary implementation to renovating your home with your roof was on fire. Investing millions into a system that was screaming for more resources and supports…instead, we introduced thousands more students.

For our families, it’s personal. At this time of the year, our fight for accommodations amplifies. Will our child have access to an EPA, SLP, OT. Parents are forced to pay out of pocket for psych ed evaluations, because the list is literally years long.

Outside of the pack of investments, the lack of leadership around executing on the Students First report, we have those in senior positions still using outdated terms to describe our loved ones. They don’t have “special needs”, they have human needs.

If we are to build a truly inclusive society, within our communities, within our workplaces, it must start in our schools. I hope this is a value that new @nseducation Minister @BeckyDruhan embraces.

We are tired. We are burned out. Students. Teachers. Administrators. Families. We have a clear way forward with the Students First report. A detailed map that outlines what needs to be done. We ask that it finally be prioritized, that our kids finally be prioritized.