-Can I choose my student’s EA?

The EA support that your child will receive will be determined by their school. From Manitoba Education:

An Educational Assistant (EA) is hired by a school division and is subject to the hiring and retention policies of that division. Many EAs are members of unions and have contracts with their employers regulating seniority and placement. Some school divisions have established policies which allow for specific assignment of an EA. The EA is under the supervision of the classroom teacher and as such is acting under his or her direction with input from the case manager, resource teacher and the school’s Principal. Any concerns a parent might have with an EA should be directed to the classroom teacher first, possibly the case manager or resource teacher next, then the Principal.
https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/specedu/aep/dr_faq.html

-What if my student has medical needs? Will they have a nurse? 

URIS is the Unified Referral and Intake System. From the Manitoba Education, “URIS supports children with special health needs to safely participate in eligible community programs.” This includes schools, school divisions, child care facilities, and respite services. 

URIS divides needs into Group A Health Care Procedures, and Group B Health Care Procedures. If your student has medical needs that are considered URIS Group A, they will be performed by a nurse. If your student has medical needs that are considered URIS Group B, they will be performed by non-health-care personnel who receive training by a nurse.

Learn more about URIS here: https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/specedu/uris/index.html

-Can my student attend field trips with their class?

Yes! Our students don’t just deserve to be included in the classrooms, but in other aspects of school community life including Field Trips. According to Manitoba Education:

A. School divisions must

    1. ensure that school-related activities such as assemblies, sports days, and field trips reasonably accommodate the needs of all students”
      (MEECL, Standards for Appropriate Educational Programming in Manitoba, 2022, p.8)

-Who can I contact to help me advocate for my student?

If you would like Peer Support guidance with Advocacy, you can reach out to us directly at FAN: families.caregivers@fanmb.ca 

If you need more formal Advocacy assistance in Manitoba, you can contact one of the following:

For more information visit our website section on Advocacy here.

-How does Special Education funding work in Manitoba? 

Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning publishes Funding information each year. From the website: 

There are some grants that support students with special needs specifically, for example the Student Services Grant and Clinician/Coordinator grants. These grants are used by school divisions to provide a continuum of supports for students with special needs. The Student Services Grant is intended to support students with mild to moderate special learning needs.

For school divisions, the grant supports students with severe to profound special learning needs.
https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/specedu/funding/index.html

https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/…/2024-25_funding_booklet.pdf

https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/specedu/funding/level2-3.html

-What is an SSP/IEP? How can I prepare for an IEP meeting? 

You can learn more about SSP/IEP on our website at the SSP and IEP link here.

-How can I prepare my student for Kindergarten? 

According to Protocol for Early Childhood Transition to School for Children with Additional Support Needs published by Healthy Child Manitoba and Manitoba Education, the process for preparing for Kindergarten should begin in September of the year prior to your student starting Kindergarten. You can learn more about the process, including specific timelines and forms to guide this process from the document: (Manitoba Education, Protocol for Early Childhood Transition to School for Children with Additional Support Needs, December 2015.)

You can also view Community Living Manitoba’s A Parent Guide to Inclusive Education (Community Living Manitoba, A Parent’s Guide to Inclusive Education, 2013.)

-How can I prepare my student for transition out of high school? 

The student is the central member of the transition planning team. Their role is particularly central in goal setting and decision-making. The roles of the student in transition planning include:

According to Working Together: A Parent’s Guide to Transition from School to Community published by Healthy Child Manitoba, the process for preparing for transition after graduation should begin between 14-16 years of age. You can learn more about the process, including specific timelines and forms to guide this process from the document: Healthy Child Manitoba, Manitoba Education, Working Together: A Parent’s Guide to Transition from School to Community

-What if I’m not happy with the support my student is receiving from the school? 

There are informal and formal procedures to follow for Dispute Resolution when it comes to schools in Manitoba. Check out our link on Dispute Resolution here.

-Who can attend an IEP meeting?

Attending an IEP meeting may feel daunting for some people, as you may be seated around the table with several members of the school team. You can request to have someone attend with you. This person could take notes for you, while you focus on being present in the meeting. Another person you can request to attend the meeting from your child’s team is their CDS worker. They may have unique experience to draw on, alternative perspectives, as well as additional knowledge about your child. 

Here is a link to a graphic illustrating Personnel on a School Support Team, who you may see around the table at an IEP meeting:  (MEECL, Standards for Appropriate Educational Programming in Manitoba, 2022, p.6)