“Cruel and shortsighted”: Ford-appointed supervisor’s first big decision hurts special education students

TORONTO – Ontario NDP MPPs Alexa Gilmour (Parkdale-High Park) and Jessica Bell (University-Rosedale) joined parents and advocates at Lucy McCormick School to speak out against the decision by Doug Ford’s appointed TDSB supervisor to raise the cap on special education class sizes.

“This decision will increase pressure on teachers and staff and reduce the individualized support that high-needs students depend on to learn and thrive,” said Gilmour. “Parents of special needs kids are telling us that they’re scared to drop their kids off at school in the morning. That’s not okay.

“Our kids deserve safety, dignity, and a chance to thrive. The Minister must reverse these dangerous cuts, invest in special education, and ensure classrooms have the staff and resources necessary to keep our kids safe.”

“The decision to make cuts affecting disabled children is cruel and shortsighted, and it tells us everything we need to know about this government’s priorities: they’re willing to balance the budget by taking resources away from disabled children,” said Bell.

“These are students who rely on one-on-one attention from teachers and educational assistants — children who deserve patience, care, and stability.”

ADDITIONAL QUOTES:

"My daughter, Ruby, communicates through non-verbal cues - visually and audibly - and in larger classrooms, those cues are easily missed. She also has a seizure disorder and cannot swallow, which means her safety depends on educators being able to recognize signs of distress immediately. Children like mine rely on seconds, not minutes.”

• Jessica Roberts, parent

“Taking resources away from the most vulnerable kids in the province with the most complex, profound needs is callous and inhumane. This decision is heartless and heinous.”

• Ronen Kleiman, parent

“The level of support these kids need is high. When we lose a teacher, we lose expertise, and we can’t get that back. This is not just about education. It’s about safety.”

• Rodney Litigio, parent