LEGISLATION

SPECIAL NEEDS
CHILDREN IN ONTARIO

THE CANADIAN CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND

FREEDOMS (SECTION 15) 1982
Equality Rights- named people with disabilities an
equity group.
"Every individual is equal ... without discrimination
based on...mental or physical disability."

ONTARIO'S HUMAN RIGHTS CODE, 1962

Right to equal treatment with respect to services and to
treatment . Education is considered to be a service under
the code, and service providers have an obligation to
accommodate a person’s needs,
*1982 amended to prohibit discrimination on the basis of
handicap.

EDUCATION AMENDMENT ACT, 1980.

Bill 82, required Ontario school boards to provide
special education programs and services for all
students with special education needs.

THE ACCESSIBILITY FOR ONTARIANS

WITH DISABILITIES ACT

Allows the government to develop specific

standards for accessibility and to enforce
them. The goal of the act is to create an
accessible Ontario by 2025 so that people of
all abilities can work, play, and participate in
all aspects of daily living.