Parents angry over ending of special ed program
A special education program which for nearly 20 years has helped older developmentally challenged students learn life skills and find jobs is being discontinued by the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board — much to the anger of parents and students.
Work Matters, a program based at St. Michael’s adult education centre in the city’s west end, is being replaced with a new program adopted by the board this year called Job Start. The new program, offered in tandem with WindsorEssex Community Living, allows students to gain similar skills as Work Matters, but sees students instead remain integrated in their home schools.
But parents aren’t convinced the new program is better.
“It’s pure disappointment that it’s being shut down,” said Penny Michaluck, whose daughter, Heather, 22, graduated from Work Matters last year.
“It brought Heather out of her shell,” Michaluck said. “She really has come a long way and matured out of it.”
Michaluck said Work Matters brought older students with similar challenges under one roof. They could be with peers in a small group and get close attention from instructors.
Heather gained the confidence to travel the city by bus and make food and clothing purchases. She learned social skills and job skills leading to employment.
Heather, who attended Work Matters for two years, has worked at the Tim Hortons on Tecumseh Road West for the past 18 months, clearing tables and doing dishes.
“I just want (Work Matters) to stay open so other people can take it, too,” Heather said Tuesday. “I really learned a lot and still have friends who go there.”
Upset mother Suzanne McCaig said she was surprised to learn Work Matters was being closed. Her daughter, Ashley Lanthier, 22, is a recent graduate of the program.
“It was a great program,” McCaig said. “It really benefited Ashley and she enjoyed it immensely. I hate to see it close. She was able to interact with her peers. It really gave her confidence more than anything else.”
School board spokesman Steve Fields said Job Smart was developed by the Sarnia-Lambton school board. WECDSB purchased it for $3,200 and launched it this school year before replacing Work Matters.
“We did an analysis and determined there are better ways to serve our students,” Fields said. “We would not just cancel a program unless there were alternatives to meet the needs.”
The Catholic board has 216 students between the ages of 14 and 21 involved in the Job Start program. Work Matters typically attracted only a dozen students between the ages of 18 and 21 each year.
The Catholic board operated it, but only five students from the board participated. The rest came from the public board.
Fields concedes his board could have done better job of addressing parental concerns in advance of Work Matters wrapping up for good at the end of this month.
“They may not be aware of some of the things we are telling you,” he said. “We will be responding to people and try explaining the same things. We just think there is a better way with this alternative for the students. They get to remain in their home schools.
“We still want to make sure for these students that after they leave our care they will be able to find meaningful jobs in the workplace. We are still committed to doing that.”