So did you get the letter to the editor in the Forest paper last week? Hoping for some community response. Funny, I talk to people about this issue and more often they have at least heard of the class now. We are still trying, still hoping for a just world for our kids. We are trying to be creative. I have been looking into other models of coop that other schools have. Did you know that when "regular" students have coop it is funded by the Ministry of Education but most coop that is offered to special needs students is funded by someone else or it is not offered. Why is this? Why is it viewed that "regular" students are more deserving, have more need for employment experience, than a child with an intellectual disability? With the right education these kids would be just as employable but the key is the right education. Coop for the DD class also educates the community, shows everyone how much these kids have to offer. It is a winning situation for everyone involved: the student learns and becomes a good citizen; the employer gets a good employee; the government does not have to pay to keep someone in care. Everyone is happier. I just don't understand why this would not be a priority. Just in case you are thinking we are looking for a great deal of money, the funding needed is really not all that huge. Here are the estimated amounts:
Based on what was previously in place in the DD classroom at North Lambton Secondary School, the following formula shows the dollar figure we would need to get the co-op up and running again.
10 students x (average of) 4 hours/week of co-op= 40 hours of co-op per week
40 x $25/ hour (substitute EA) = $1000 per week
$1000 x 10 weeks/semester = $10,000 per semester
$10,000 x 2 semesters = $20,000 per school year
*Alternately, if co-op ran for 12 weeks per semester, it would cost $24,000 per school year
As for the level of support we are looking for, previously some of the students required one on one job coaching at first, and then were able to work without that assistance. Of course, this will depend on the place of employment and the individual student’s needs.
There is plenty of community funding that could be accessed if the school were willing to do so. But filling out all those forms and going that extra bit takes dedication and desire to actually educate. So far we have been told that it would take too much money, that we would have to have enough money to put this program in every school (but currently some schools have it now and not others so why would every school have to get it if NLSS does??), that other funding can't be used because it is not "ongoing", though other programs have outside funding and most Ministry funding is done on a maximum 3 year contract - the same as say a Libro financial donation which could be obtained for $60,000 per year or more - more than needed. Why are we being given all these imaginary road blocks? Is there actually a good solid reason for not reinstating coop right away? It would be nice to know what it would take to get the school board to move on this before more children are too old and miss their opportunity. How long would any parent want their child to go without learning math? Three years? more? Would they like the school to say they aren't teaching math for at least 8 years to save money when their child is due to graduate in 4 years and will have to go without ever learning it? This is how it feels to a parent of a child in the DD class at NLSS. Coop is as important as reading or math is to another student.
If you have any "creative" ideas I invite you to share them with us, or share them with the principal at NLSS and the school board. You never know what might be the answer.
