FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

POLICY/PROGRAM MEMORANDUM NO. 76C

Ministry of Education
1. The memorandum stipulates the need for flexibility in funding for alternative programs for deaf, deaf-blind and blind students enrolled in school board programs. 2. Funding will be allocated to fund resource/withdrawal settings, specialist teachers and support services. 3. Placement options must be discussed with pupils and their parents/guardians. 4. Recognized alternative programs which differ from Provincial schools and Centre Jules Leger will also receive funding by the Ministry. 5. Educational programming should be done with cooperation of neighbouring school boards.

POLICY/PROGRAM MEMORANDUM NO. 76C

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ ppm/76c.html

? D E R O TI N O M S MARGOR P E HT E RA NETFO WOH G NI D N U F R O F Y FI L A U Q S D R A O B L O O H C S O D W O H ? E L B A L I A V A G NI D N U F E R E H T SI ? E LB AL IAV A E RA LL E N OS - R E P S E CI V R E S T R O P P U S T A H W ? D LI H C Y M R O F E L B A LI A V A E R A S E CI V R E S T A H W

Alternative Educational Programs and Services for Deaf, Blind, and Deaf-Blind Pupils

Criteria for the Approval of Funding

The program must be designed for exceptional students who are : a. Deaf with hearing thresholds greater than 70dB level; or b. Blind with the need to use Braille or other methods of educational media ; or c. Deaf-blind where they are unable to use their senses of hearing and vision d. Who would otherwise be enrolled in either of the following schools for deaf, blind or deaf-blind students: I. The W. Ross MacDonald School: Brantford, ON (blind, deaf-blind) II. The Sir James Whitney School: Belleville, ON (deaf) III. The Ernest C. Drury School: Milton, ON (deaf) IV. The Robarts School: London, ON (deaf) V. Centre JulesLeger: Ottawa, ON (deaf, blind, deaf-blind) 2. The program must include the following components: a. b. Follow the Ontario Curriculum of Education Include special education services and materials that each individual exceptional student requires (hearing aids, FM systems, etc) Developed in consultation with the Provincial School or Centre Jules-Leger. 1.

3.

The program of instruction shall be provided by a Specialist Teacher as stipulated by Regulation 268, RRO 1980, Section 23

5.

Support Services Personnel

Support Personnel shall meet the following requirements: 1. Interpreters shall: a. Be graduates of college or university interpreter-training program and hold a certificate from the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada. b. Be assigned to one or more deaf students when they are not under the direct instruction of a specialist teacher. 2. Interveners shall: a. Have had training by a specialist teacher of the deaf-blind to communicate with deaf -blind students. b. Deliver a program designed to meet the individual needs of the student. c. Work with a deaf-blind student 100% of the school day. 3. Orientation and mobility personnel shall: a. Hold a certificate from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) or equivalent b. Have normal vision (20/40) and hearing (0 -25dB) c. Provide 1/1instruction to blind students in elementary or secondary schools. 4. Transcribers shall: a. Have qualifications of CNIB in reading Braille

b. Transcribe print material into Braille. Teacher Assistants shall: a. Hold qualifications determined by the School Boards. b. Be deployed in classes with a Specialist Teacher with exceptional students.

Funding
Number of approved qualified staff will
be determined by the number of students identified as exceptional as determined under the Criteria for Approval of Funding.

The amounts calculated for grant purposes will be stipulated by the General Legislative Grants Regulations.

Funding for interveners, orientation and

mobility personnel will be calculated the same as teacher assistants.

The cost of providing interpreters and

interveners will be shared between the Ministry of Education and the School board.

Requests for the approval of funding

must be received by the Regional Director of Education by: April 30th for new programs begining in September, October 31st for new programs beginning in January, May 31st for continuation of programs.

c.

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ ppm/76c.html