Sask. mother highlights lack of special needs supports in schools
The mother of a Regina special needs student who witnessed many of her supports disappear due to cuts – spoke out on the current struggles of education in Saskatchewan.
Taya Thomas tragically lost her daughter Mayelle this past December. Since her passing, Thomas has sought to highlight the challenges her child faced in overcrowded classrooms with lacking supports.
“She was 13 and a half years old. She was a wonderfully bright child,” Thomas explained. “She had some developmental delays. But that never stop[ped] her from engaging and doing things like every other child.”
Mayelle was wheelchair bound and suffered from seizures. One of her conditions did not allow her to sweat and would lead her to overheat if her classroom did not have access to air conditioning.
This, along with Mayelle’s wheelchair barely fitting through doorways at Grant Road School, were just some issues the young student faced.
“She was supposed to be going up to high school, and they did not have enough room in the high school program to accommodate her,” Thomas explained.
In addition, the program Mayelle had utilized since she was three years old – which allowed her to start her schooling early – was cut.
“For somebody who is nonverbal like my daughter, I mean, it was leaps and bounds in they need to have ways to communicate,” Thomas explained. “I think cutting all these programs that they needed didn't ever make sense to me.”
The Saskatchewan NDP brought the issue to the legislature on Tuesday.
“Saskatchewan is a rich province, there is no excuse. It should not be this way. It is a choice by that minister and the members opposite,” MLA Aleana Young said during question period.
Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill defended the government’s approach to education.
“It is record funding – $356.6 million for classroom supports funding distributed to all 27 school divisions,” he said, referring to the most recent education budget. “We understand that school divisions around the province are going to make different decisions on how that programming is offered to residents … but this is a government that is serious about ensuring that there are adequate classroom supports.”
“If [the Education Minister] thinks his government is doing enough on education; why were those supports for children like Mayelle cut?” Education Critic Matt Love asked.
Thomas commented on the current state of classrooms and challenges facing teachers – highlighting the need for the province to guarantee support.
“In my daughter's classroom. I believe there was at least 10 high needs students, there was one teacher, one nurse and three EA’s,” Thomas said.
“How are those teachers dealing with 30 plus kids, plus maybe one autistic kid or somebody who needs a little extra help? How are their needs being met? How are the teachers handling that?”
During question period debate, Cockrill committed to meeting with Thomas to discuss her concerns.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.