For Release: March 16, 2015
March News: Update #3
Lanark Leeds & Grenville Special Needs Strategy Proposal Development Table
Hello Community of Lanark Leeds and Grenville,
Our “Table” of service providers and parents continues to work toward improving special needs services for children in our region as part of the Ontario Special Needs Strategy. (The Strategy is described in more detail in earlier updates posted on lanarkkids.ca and everykid.ca). What’s new this month?
Our first proposal is due to the government in June. At the Table we are defining the model we will propose to improve the coordination of special needs services for children/families using more than one service. We are designing a system that will have only one plan for each child, will have service planning coordinators to assist families and we will have one coordinating agency for this area to keep track of the information-sharing and other things needed to support these changes.
On March 10 we held a meeting of six parents and 33 front-line workers (speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, community service workers among others) to look carefully at how to deliver rehabilitation services in a way that is more continuous and convenient for families. The ideas from that session will be gathered in a report. If you would like to receive a copy, make that request to our table administrator, whose email address is at the bottom of the page.
How can I share my thoughts on improving the coordination of special needs services? The survey can be found here:
Parents: If you are a parent of a child receiving services from more than one service, please answer the questions on this parents’ on-line survey.
Service Providers: If you work for an agency, school or other body that provides special needs services, please provide your ideas on service coordination using this service providers’ on-line survey.
Kindly spread the word to other families or care providers by sending them this update, and encouraging them to send in their ideas on or before March 31st. We want as many perspectives as possible!
How can I stay up to date?
If you would like to receive regular updates or other reports email Pam Fergusson, Table Administrator.
Thank you and stay tuned!
Table Co-chairs
Margaret van Beers, Director, Child Development Centre, Hotel Dieu Hospital Paula Perrault, Principal of Special Education, Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario
Gillian Jackson, Manager, Children’s Services Developmental Services of Leeds & Grenville
Donna Davidson, Director, Lanark Community Programs, Lanark Renfrew Health & Community Services