Abstract

In 2016, Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), a First Nations organization in northern Ontario, released a report on special education programs and services available to students throughout their communities. Many problems were identified were identified in the report. Several mothers shared their experiences with dealing with the absence of comprehensive special education programs and services within their communities. Schools lacked early identification programs, assessment programs, special education teachers, special education assistants, equipment, and training programs for parents. The lack of special education programs and services for the NAN communities should not have occurred. These communities should have had access to a special education system comparable to those offered in provincial schools. The federal government had policies in place since 1986 to provide this level of programs and services. This paper reviews this lack of provincial levels of special education programs and services and it’s impact on First Nations youth.

Presenters

Ron Phillips
Associate Professor, Education, Nipissing University, Ontario, Canada

Details

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Theme

Educational Studies

KEYWORDS

FIRST NATIONS EDUCATION IN CANADA, FIRST NATIONS SPECIAL EDUCATION

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