EAS in schools deserve more

Re: High absenteeism rates of support staff worry parents of disabled students, by Mary Caton, Feb. 22

Thank you for publishing this article and shining light on a serious support staff shortage happening around Ontario.

I understand COVID-19 has not been easy on the education system and following such a tough situation for Jennifer's family is raising awareness of the importance of support staff within the school system.

You did an excellent job encapsulating the struggles of being wheelchair-bound in a secondary school with limited wheelchair accessibility.

By explaining the daily tasks, what the support staff does for the girl, including grabbing books, getting on and off the bus, etc., you give others the opportunity to imagine what it would be like in her position.

By raising awareness of the shortage hopefully the school board will create an incentive or raise wages for those working these challenging jobs.

I am currently working at a Montessori as an E.C.E and many of my colleagues say the wages E.C.E jobs offer aren't enough to support a family of their own.

Every secondary school student has the right to an education, but due to physical disability some students are being left with no support.

A student left with no one to help them get off the bus is unacceptable. As a society we need to be better. Imagine your child leaving for school in the morning and you have no idea if they arrived at school safely.

A new system for EAS where they are not overworked and underpaid would help attract students to the field.

Natasha Kitka, Windsor