Symposium
September 26/27, 2006

The Ministry of Education is hosting a provincial symposium, Tools for Learning: the Effective Use of Assistive Technology for Students with Special Education Needs, Kindergarten to Grade 12, on September 26 and 27, 2006 at the Doubletree International Plaza Hotel in Toronto, Ontario.

The ministry is funding the participation of approximately 650 delegates from among the English and French language district school boards, school authorities, Provincial and Demonstration Schools, Minister's Advisory Council for Special Education, and Faculties of Education in Ontario. Delegates from both elementary and secondary panels have been invited to attend.

The symposium supports the implementation of Education For All: The Report of the Expert Panel on Literacy and Numeracy Instruction for Students with Special Education Needs, Kindergarten to Grade 6 (2005). This initiative further addresses the government's three key priorities for education: high levels of student achievement; reducing gaps in student achievement; and increasing public confidence and support for public education.

The Expert Panel Report noted that assistive technology is a powerful tool which Ontario schools can use more effectively to support students with special education needs. The panel made the following recommendations:

• All teachers should be able to access professional development in the use of assistive technology. While many teachers have significant skills in using instructional technology in their teaching, it is imperative that teachers also receive effective professional development to successfully implement and embed assistive technology when teaching students with special needs.
• School boards need to create institutional structures that support the responsible use of assistive technology. Accountability for assistive technology equipment is essential. The panel recommends the initiation of a comprehensive system that tracks needs assessments, implementation, and gap analyses. A statement of how assistive technology is used should be a mandatory part of each district school board's special education plan.
• The Ministry of Education and school boards must make the development of additional assistive technology tools for francophone students a priority. There is a greater variety of assistive technology available for English-speaking students than for francophone students with special needs.

Through various presentations, workshops and plenary sessions, the symposium will provide the education sector with a unique opportunity to gain additional insights on how assistive technology can support barrier-free learning environments where all students have equal access to the learning experience and the Ontario curriculum. Simultaneous interpretation will be available, English to French, for plenary presentations and workshops as required.