Parent meeting and AGM at DEC
February 3 2016
In attendance: 30 parents and Joanna Angelidis (District Principal, Student Services)
Meeting called to order at 7:10pm
Joanna Angelidis:
Her responsibility is supporting families of children with ASD
Providing access to support
ABA SW and EA resourcing
Trying to solve complex problems
Contractual limitations
Health and Safety concerns
2 Behaviour consultants work with the district Preetinder Narang and Tina Gunn
Standards in place
Safe, orderly, accessible
Making learning experiences accessible (teaching children how to cope in situations)
Preserving dignity-for every child, staff member, family
‘Comfortable failure’-facilitate learning opportunity: Consciously and collaboratively step back and allow child to experience failure to help child develop independence.
Why do we operate this way?
Care about every child
School Act legislation-legally obligated
Hope to enable each child to reach their potential. “Potential-acquire-contribute”
Shared work with parents and ABA SWs—overlap between home and school leads to better outcomes
Empowering and collaboration
Question about applying for ABA SW
2 processes:
Initial request for ABA SW Due March 1st should be Sent to IST. Includes a copy of BC’s resume—unless BC is on district’s approved BC list. Indicate on form if have an ABA SW in mind for a match. It is up to HR to interview and hire ABA SW
Continuing ABA SW application Due March 1st and is sent to IST/LST/Bases teachers.
Include evidence of BC involvement (outline of home program, behaviour plan, last team meeting notes, observation notes from last school visit)
Forms to ‘authorize observations’ and authorization to send/share information’.
Matches are not guaranteed
Principals receive entitlements in May for ASD children registered for September
Positions are created based on entitlements
EAs posting round in June / ABA SWs posting round August 15-25 / New hire meeting August 25
Existing ABA SWs can post into position
If there was a match in mind for the child, usually the district staff can speak to candidate about taking another position. This must be voluntary.
On posting description, BC can be named. Parents can have input via principal
Levelled hours for support
K and grade 1 27.5 hours
Grade 2-7 25 hours
Grade 8 25 hours
Sometimes limited by contractual limitations
Transition from gr 7 to gr 8—support position must be posted
Find ways to address child’s needs
Question: Who owns form/programs at school?
Parent has been refused to take child’s programs home at end of school year
Private information
All class work goes home, why not programs?
Summary
Parents entwined in child’s life, involvement with school, BC, ABA SW
Collaboration between parties
Inconsistencies exist between schools
Desire to make policies transparent and consistent
Looking for ways to share information with school staff in a friendly way. Would ABA sound byte be possible?
Question: What to do when Classroom Teacher (CT) Is not following adaptations?
Adaptations recommended by BC
ABA SW can’t take action if CT is not onboard
Ask why CT is not adapting: Does CT not know how? Power play? Overwhelmed? District may offer helping teacher, resources
Question: BC is not BCBA, requires supervision?
Goal to clear up BC list, who requires supervision, who are the BCBAs? What is standard? What is expectation? Why does BC require BCBA—what is rationale?
Question: Is the district list of ‘approved’ consultants available to parents?
No due to privacy concerns. Parent may request information on a case by case basis for specific BC
Question: Is there a mandatory number of observations by the BC per school year?
District would like 3/school year
Meaningful collaboration includes school observations, IEP/IEP review, email exchange etc
Question: What does “universal design for learning” mean?
Every child has their learning path
Want to develop path to have as many kids along path as often as possible
Employ strategies to get students back on path
Some students need slightly different path
Thank you and goodbye to Joanna
ER-history of ABA SW program
Before ABA SW, there was an ABA EA position
Collaborative effort with SD36
6 people have been in Joanna’s position in the last 10 years
Joanna’s focus is ASD
Michelle Schmidt is only involved with ASD students in an overage year
Catherine Sereda is Director of Instruction
Advisory Executive Elections
Elaine Reynault-Chair
Nicole Kaler-Vice Chair
Jen Antic-Secretary
Eleanor MacDonald-Member at Large
Question: What do parents want to see from Joanna?
Form to say what ABA SWs does
Consistency between administrators/schools lacking—ABA sound byte good idea (brief, catchy)
ABA SW handbook is same as EA handbook
Such high turnover in Student Services role (Joanna’s role)
First time a district principal has been in specific ASD role
Hoping for improved continuity
ProD day in-service-ABA SW, Administrators, EAs, IST
Surrey College Course
Newly hired ABA SWs (in last two years) have to sign contract committing to take Surrey College Course
HR applying pressure on ABA SWs to take the course
Unless the district has a surplus of ABA SWs, district won’t fire ABA SW for not taking course
ABA SWs can email Joanna if there is a problem about the Surrey College requirement
Joanna is trying to alleviate pressure/looking for alternatives (i.e. course credit at other institutions, offering payroll deduction for tuition)
ABA SW forms
Goal to have ABA SW forms simplified, less confusing and alarming
Question: What will district do to fill 100-120 vacant spots?
District continually post for ABA SW candidates (unlike EAs)
Created EA-BT position (suited for families wanting ABA SW, but not bringing candidate in for matching process)
EA-BTs are supervised by district BCBAs. No pay difference for becoming a BT. Course is taken on the EAs own time.
Question: Any chance 1,000 hours requirement be lowered?
Unlikely. Benchmark parents and district agreed on.
Next meeting May 4th (subject to change)
Meeting adjourned 9:07pm
District ABA Advisory 
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