Tools for learning provide students with diverse learning needs support for literacy learning and equipment to access the curriculum and/or alternative programs. Guidelines for accessing Ministry of Education funding for individualized equipment are described in: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/funding/1617/2016_17_SEA_Guidelines_en.pdf.
Types of equipment may include: computer hardware, software, customized woodwork, mobility supports, FM systems, augmentative communication devices and CCTVs.
Funds can be used to purchase personal equipment for any student with a special need where the equipment is required to support the student’s access to the Ontario Curriculum and/or alternative program. Efforts are made to share equipment among several students when appropriate and possible.
Students need not be formally identified as exceptional but the equipment must be recommended by a qualified professional and evidence of the use of equipment must be documented in the student's IEP.
Parents are informed about the processes involved in acquiring specialized equipment either through board staff or through community agencies such as Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), occupational therapists, physiotherapists or other staff.
Computer-based Technology
In addition to computer hardware/software acquired through the SEA process, Dufferin-Peel elementary and secondary schools have access to specialized computer programs to support the literacy learning and well-being of all students. These programs include optical character recognition (OCR) and text-to-speech software, speech-recognition software, word prediction software and software to support planning and organization.
Improved access to technology is aligned with the goals of the board's Strategic Plan for Technology. As an example, literacy support software is available to students on all standard computers in the board’s elementary and secondary schools.
Computers and devices with specialized software are deployed to a variety of special education class placements and programs.
Digital Learning TechnologiesIn support of 21st-century learning, the board provides opportunities for critical thinking, collaboration, innovation and the use of new technologies including offering a variety of options to prepare students for a dynamic and ever-changing world.
Dufferin-Peel continues to provide a variety of supports to promote student engagement that ultimately improves student well-being and achievement. Demonstrated support for board wide expansion of technology integration provides a means to foster differentiated instruction and assessment and evaluation practices with a focus on supporting learning and access to curriculum for all within a universal design for learning (UDL) model.
