Milton rally addresses budget cuts to Ontario schools for blind and deaf

Milton | Halton | Education | Latest News |

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Published March 25, 2022 at 4:03 pm

Several members of the community recently gathered at a Milton school to protest the Province of Ontario’s cuts to special education.

The rally was held on Mar. 24, at E.C. Drury School for the Deaf, which offers residential and day programs for elementary and secondary deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

The protest featured teachers, students, families and community members who all gathered together to raise awareness and voice their concerns over budget cuts and lack of specialized assessments that negatively impact students in the community.

Specialized assessments are crucial for students at E.C. Drury School for the Deaf, along with those attending other Ontario schools that are part of the Provincial and Demonstration Schools Branch (PDSB) in order to help them succeed and meet their unique needs.

Along with voicing concerns over the need for additional resources and funding for education, the rally also addressed fair hiring practices, school infrastructure, lower enrolment and staff rates and outreach programs, all of which have been negatively affected by budget cuts.

Among the attendees at the rally was Ward 4 Councillor Sameera Ali, who later took to Twitter to showcase her support.

 

“I was proud to stand with OSSTF members & advocate for equitable access to resources for students & to end the cuts to the valuable supports offered to our students most in need! #solidarity,” said Ali on Twitter.

Photo: Sameera Ali’s Twitter page

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