District Services

All district services are accessed through the School Based Team utilizing the Inclusive Education Referral form. In some cases, classroom teachers and learning support teachers can contact the district specialists directly. When individualized support is required the parent must be contacted and additional paperwork including, but not limited to consent may be required. Relevant forms can be found at the Inclusive Education – Staff Resources link

Alternative and Augmentative Communication Speech-Language Pathologist

SD71 has a speech-language pathologist (SLP) who specializes in alternative and augmentative communication (AAC). The AAC SLP provides collaborative consultation with school teams and families to support students with significant communication challenges as they develop their skills. A variety of tools ranging from low-tech (e.g. picture symbols) to high-tech (e.g. communication devices or iPads with robust communication apps) are available and supported. The AAC SLP provides assessment of functional language skills, trials with a variety of communication systems and strategies, loans and ongoing technical support of equipment, contribution to program planning, staff training and support, and regular direct therapy with students.

The AAC SLP service aim is to provide communication systems to individual students, to support skill development for functional and independent communication, and to promote opportunities for their learning, social participation and agency.

Hearing and Vision Services

The district has both a Teacher of the Visually Impaired, and a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.  These teachers provide direct support for students who have been diagnosed with a vision impairment or hearing differences, as well as providing consultation and support for the classroom and learning services teachers at the school.

They also support the student with accessing services through provincial programs, and facilitate the loan of specialized equipment and learning resources.

Physiotherapy

The physiotherapist (PT) provides collaborative consultation with school teams to support students with motor skill or mobility challenges. The PT provides screening, assessment, staff training and program planning. The PT can also recommend specialized equipment to maximize a student’s functional independence at school.

Occupational Therapy

The occupational therapist (OT) collaborates with school-based teams to support students’ participation at school by understanding their strengths and challenges in areas of self-regulation, fine motor, gross motor, and oral-motor skills.

The OT works with teachers to create classroom environments that support students in their daily activities. Individual assessments are used to deepen understanding of students’ challenges after classroom-based strategies have been initiated.

English Language Learning

The goal of ELL instruction is to help ELLs develop the language skills necessary to meet expectations in curriculum areas.  The ELL teacher’s role in this respect are:

    • Assess students to determine language proficiency (speaking, listening, reading, writing).
    • Teach academic and social English vocabulary and language skills.
    • Provide ELL strategies and resources for teachers, students, and parents.
    • Support classroom teachers as they create adaptations and modifications for their ELLs.

ELL Home Support Worker

The Home Support Worker helps to facilitate communication and relationships between the school and the ELL families.  The SW also connects ELL families with community services as needed.

District Inclusion Support Teachers

The district currently has two Inclusion Support Teachers who work with school teams to ensure positive, inclusive opportunities for all. Services provided may include:

    • Program planning for students with Low Incidence Designations and complex needs.
    • Functional Curriculum Suggestions and Resources
    • Strategies for Successful Inclusion
    • Training and Education
    • Positive Behaviour Supports

Reading Intervention Support Teacher

Accessed through SBT, the Reading Intervention Support Teacher can provide training, resource recommendation and direct support in the areas of Reading Intervention and Remediation.

Inclusive Education Technology

The Inclusive Education technology department consists of a Lead Teacher, a Hardware Technician and a Software and Resource Program Worker. Services include:

    • Assistive Technology (AT) Needs Assessment and Recommendation
    • Assistive Technology (AT) and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Loans and Maintenance
    • AT and AAC Training and Implementation Support
    • Inclusive Education Curriculum Support and Resources Development
    • District wide accessibility tool support
    • BYOD advice regarding accessibility tools
    • Visual Supports ​creation

Assistive Technology loans can be made through the school-based team (SBT) via the school Learning Support Teacher (LST) on Inclusive Education Staff by completing an Initial Student Loan Assistive Tech Request form