Abstract
In 2016, the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), a First Nation organization of 49 communities in northern Ontario, released a report on the state of special education programs and services available to the schools and students throughout their communities. Many problems were identified were identified in the report. Several mothers shared their experiences with dealing with the absence of comprehensive special education programs and services within the federal government funded First Nation-managed schools. Schools lacked early identification programs, assessment programs, special education teachers, special education assistants, equipment, and training programs for parents. The lack of special education programs and services for the NAN communities should not have occurred. These communities should have had access to a special education system comparable to those offered in provincial schools. The federal government had policies in place since 1986 to provide this level of programs and services. This paper reviews this lack of provincial levels of special education programs and services and its impact on First Nation youth.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
First Nation special education, First Nation education, Canadian education
