FCSS-FESC Response to YRDSB Decision to Terminate Partnership with Giant Steps

Press Release

Apr 25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2021

In September 2020, York Region District School Board (YRDSB) Director of Education Louise Sirisko made the regrettable decision to sever the board’s partnership with Giant Steps, a specialized school and therapy centre that supports the development of autistic students and empowers them to be well-equipped for their eventual transition into regular YRDSB schools. Giant Steps is a not-for-profit organization founded as a result of its partnership with and subsidization by the YRDSB, with parents paying an annual $7,000 tuition fee to cover the remainder of the school’s costs. However, as the only specialized school of its kind in a province where autism therapy programs are already scarce, the additional cost is well worth the intensive care and supports that Giant Steps is able to provide for its students.

When the partnership between Giant Steps and the YRDSB ends (currently scheduled for June 2021), 24 autistic students will transition to their home school where they will receive special education support, although whether this support will be comparable to what has been provided by Giant Steps is of great concern. Despite reassurances from YRDSB staff of the benefits of this decision, caregivers of children in the program are rightly worried and have set up a petition with nearly 9,000 signatories calling for the partnership to be reinstated.

Director Sirisko disparagingly cited “equity” as their rationale for defunding Giant Steps, and made reference to “empowering ethical leadership.” At the Federation of Canadian Secondary Students, we believe that this is a step backwards from the goal of ensuring equity for autistic students. The FCSS-FESC therefore calls on the YRDSB to immediately reverse its decision to sever its partnership with Giant Steps, and to consider fully subsidizing the tuition fee if equity is truly their objective.

In the context of this situation, equity should mean ensuring that all autistic students are supported to their fullest in their educational journey. Cancelling a program because it costs parents a tuition fee (which is considerably lower than the full cost of autism therapy) is equivalent to, in the words of a caregiver to an autistic child: “knocking down students to a lower common denominator.” The Giant Steps program ensures that all students receive the same level of support and care from qualified practitioners, whereas the quality of support at home schools may differ greatly depending on numerous factors.

If individual YRDSB schools are left to design their own programs for autistic students, inequities may arise as a result of different funding allocations and amounts of access to trained staff. Those with severe learning impediments are often unable to be fully supported within their home school environment, even with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and teachers and educational assistants are rarely equipped with the resources to respond appropriately to their unique needs. This means that many autistic students will undoubtedly see a decrease in the quality of support they receive and find themselves unable to access the specialized care and resources they require.

On the other hand, Giant Steps already has the resources, trained staff, and effective programs set up to provide students with an enriching and supportive environment where they can thrive with the support of therapists and special education teachers. The right decision is clear: YRDSB must put the needs of their autistic students first and reinstate its partnership with Giant Steps.