(Canada) BC: Schools failing to provide for disabled students, parents charge

June 10, 2018, (Canada) BC: Powell River Peak: Children with special needs struggle for education http://www.prpeak.com/community/children-with-special-needs-struggle-for-education-1.23331035 …As a director with the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils, Nordquist has been inundated with requests for help from parents whose children with special needs are being denied their legal right to a full public education. In some cases, schools send children home or limit their hours. In others, students are allowed in class, but never receive the help they need to learn. … “It’s not any particular school district. These are broad, systemic issues that are happening everywhere. “The impact that it is having on some of our families — I can’t [overstate] the extent of the suffering that I’ve heard.” … …and the Family Support Institute all say they’re hearing from parents across the province unhappy with the state of inclusive education. … Advocates say it has been an issue for years due to cuts to specialist teachers, insufficient training, too few education assistants and a general lack of support for students with special needs. … Education Minister Rob Fleming said the government made significant strides this year, hiring 3,500 new teachers — including special education teachers, teacher-psychologists and counsellors. There are also 600 more education assistants in the system this year, he said....