National forum on inclusion and education for students with disabilities

by Anna
(The Special Life)

When:
This 3 day forum starts Thursday evening, September 25, 2008
and ends on Saturday afternoon, September 27, 2008

Cost:

Register after August 15, 2008 $ 600

Note: special rates apply for parents and community representatives. Details below.

Where:
Renaissance Toronto Airport hotel and Conference Centre,
801 Dixon Road, Toronto

Should you attend?:
Does your job require you to make decisions about schooling for students with disabilities?

Are you, your family or your child affected by such decisions?

Are you involved in resolving uncertainty, disagreement and conflict over these decisions?

This forum is a great opportunity to promote real improvements for students with disabilities right across Canada. It brings together a stellar cast of policy makers, service providers and seasoned activists to look at ways to use the policy framework of human rights to ensure inclusion and a better education for students with special needs.

It turns out that there have been enough recent changes to hope for meaningful changes. To quote their promotional brochure:

With key advancements to inclusive education policy through the un convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities and with guidelines on education issued by the human Rights commissions in Ontario and New Brunswick, there are a lot of new policy implications to consider:

what policies and practices facilitate inclusion?

can human rights frameworks assist in advancing inclusive education?

how can human rights agencies assist in the creation of inclusive education environments?

can we cooperate?

The list of keynote speakers is truly impressive. But for me, the one who stands out the most is Marilou Mcphedran, who until recently was Chief Commissioner in the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. I know her as one of the co-founders of LEAF, the Women's Legal Action and Education Fund. She had a huge part to play in ensuring that the rights of women are entrenched in Canada's Charter of Rights, and then actively promoted and protected through LEAF. The existence of LEAF is important, since there is no point in having legal rights if you're not able to protect it through the court system.

Knowing that she is part of this group gives me a lot of confidence that this forum will be more than talk - it has the possibility of laying the groundwork for the next step and actively improving education for special needs kids in Canada.

Not a moment too soon.

Although attendance is limited, space has been reserved for parents, members of the community or others with no institutional affiliation.

There is also a reduced fee for this group of non-professionals, but to get it, you'll need to use this special registration form.

If your organization can find a way to afford attendance, be sure to register early.

National Forum Program

Keynote Speakers and other Forum Details

More information on Inclusive Education Canada.