Every Child Should Have The Right to an “Equal” Education – What’s Available to Chronically Sick Children?

Every Child Should Have the Right to an “Equal” Education – What’s Available to a Disabled Child…. Is it enough?

Home Instruction – Who knew? Once you finally are lucky enough to stumble on it you quickly realize 3 hours a week of “Home Instruction” is nowhere near enough learning time for any child who is home with a disease especially a painful one whereby “stress” can make the pain even worse.

When your child becomes chronically ill and in severe pain or other hindrances prevent them from attending school can you afford to quit your job to stay home and become the teacher as well?

Click Link…. Inclusion (Disability Rights)

Here is one of the somewhat useless choices the public school board offered Hayley…

Home Instruction (Allied Services)

Provincial school law provides that a child may be excused from attendance at school if unable to attend because of illness. Home instruction

THE LAW STATES….

(3 hours per week) of HOME INSTRUCTION may be provided for any student unable to attend school because of illness. The student may NOT attend the school for classes or any reason without special permission!

Typically a full-time student will have several classes a term this being within the (Waterloo Regional District School Board) – Mathematics, English, (Core Subjects) History, Geography, Science -let’s forget any fun stuff like gym or music. How many hours per week does a child actually need in school? Cut the fat!

3 Hours…Are You Kidding Me? ….. How does 3 hours a week offer any sick child a fair shot at an education?

Try finding the legislation for this “hand-out”

In Hayley’s case it’s just enough to make her feel worse about herself. Not enough time for one subject let alone anything further. Now the child is home, ill, barely educated, withdrawing from peers and completely alienated from their friends. For us this became our only choice Grade 7 & 8 – the most critical years when become prepped both mentally and socially for high school. It is virtually another dangling carrot that a desperate parent is forced to take if they are unable to homeschool or find their own “self-funded” ways to fill this huge gap!

In Hayley’s case even if I hired a full time teacher (which I did) her pain is so great and unpredictable that full-time studies are not possible. You now have to have “tailor” or “taper” studies and create flexibility in the times you teach. Who wants to do that for you?

The school told me not to worry that Hayley would pass but they never took into consideration that I may want her to know something along the way.