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Important information for Staff and Parents

Overview
Student Group:
Special Education

Vancouver School Board offers a variety of programs and integrated support services for students with special needs.

DISTRICT AND SCHOOL-BASED SUPPORT

Area Learning Services Teams and staff at District Learning Services support students in the following designations: Multiple Disabilities, Deaf/Blind, Moderate to Severe Profound Intellectual Disabilities, Physical Disabilities or Chronic Health Impairments, Visual Impairment, Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Autism, Mild Intellectual Disabilities, Learning Disabilities and Students who require Behaviour Support.

For more information about district special programs contact the Special Education Case Managers for the geographical area you live in and read about the programs in the Special Education District Programs Handbook (updated Nov 2010).

Resource Teachers support students who are physically disabled, visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing or who are Gifted Learning Disabled or Emotionally Fragile.

VSB and the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority collaborate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive service for students with health care, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy needs in school through the In-School Support Team. The training of staff and monitoring of medical care plans are done by health professionals.

 

SUPPORT

VSB provides Home Instruction services to enable students to continue their education program while absent from school for an extended period during the school year, due to illness or related medical/psychiatric reasons.

Medical, school and community personnel may refer students by faxing the referral form to District Learning Services at 713-5244.  Referral forms are available in schools or by contacting (604)713-5240.  The referral form is reviewed and assigned to the appropriate Home Instruction Teacher. Teachers' visits are usually one hour twice a week, depending on the students' needs and the teacher's caseload.

District Learning Services is also responsible for a number of Provincial Resource Programs, which are funded by the Ministry of Education separately; 50% of the students in each of these programs must be from outside the Vancouver School District. For a complete list and contact information for the Provincial Resource Programs download the Special Education District Support Services handbook.

 

PROVINCIAL RESOURCE PROGRAMS

  • BC Children’s Hospital - Adolescent Psychiatric Unit
  • BC Children’s Hospital - Child Psychiatric School Program
  • BC Children’s Hospital - Eating Disorders Treatment Program
  • BC Children’s Hospital - School Program
  • G.F. Strong - School Program
  • Gifted Transition Program
  • Peak House
  • Provincial Early Intervention Program (PEIR)
  • Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (PRCVI)
  • Special Education Technology SET-BC
  • SET-BC Vision Services
  • Sunny Hill

 

TRANSPORTATION

Click here for the transportation application form (pdf).

Students with special needs attending their neighbourhood school are encouraged to walk with peers or take the city bus to school.  Some students may have specific needs which require assistance in travelling to school.  The most appropriate form of travel assistance is determined collaboratively by District Learning Services, the school and home.

Students attending special education programs in schools other than their neighbourhood school, will be provided with transportation assistance, if necessary.

The District Learning Services Transportation Secretary, (604) 713-4456, coordinates the transportation of students with the bus company.

 

IMPORTANT Information for Staff and Parents

District Programs handbook

District Support Services handbook

Contact Information

Intervention levels - for students requiring learning and/or behaviour supports

  • The intervention levels booklet outlines the process to be followed by school staff to support a student who is experiencing learning and/or behavioural difficulties.

BC Ministry of Education Designations

Transition Information

  • Helpful tips for parents of children with special needs. Includes information on transitioning into Kindergarten - Secondary School and after graduation. Read the transition information here.

Vancouver Coastal Health - Vancouver Regional Paediatric Team documents

 

Glossary of terms - Special Education Support Services