Program Overview
The Educational Support program is the perfect course of study for people interested in supporting children and adolescents with special needs in academic settings. This program will prepare you to work in concert with education professionals in the classroom to maximize learning opportunities for exceptional students and their families. You will receive the knowledge and skills required to work in a multidisciplinary environment by working alongside teachers, EAs, speech-language pathologists, and physiotherapists.
Program Highlights
- Highly experienced instructors who have several years of involvement in the field of special education provide instruction and professional development.
- Placement opportunities in a variety of educational settings where you will further develop your workplace skills under the supervision of experienced professionals.
- Use the most up-to-date assistive and augmentative technologies to assist in supporting students’ needs.
- Learning to construct and apply knowledge on a variety of topics related to special education.
- Opportunity to obtain relevant certificates within the program (e.g., lifting, feeding, Behaviour Management Systems Training, etc.)
Career Opportunities
Graduates will find placement opportunities in elementary or secondary school settings, group homes, and family support agencies.
Admission Requirements
OSSD with the majority of courses at the College (C), University (U), University/College (M) or Open (O) level plus:
- Grade 12 English - ENG4U, ENG4C, EAE4C or EAE4U.
Mature students - See Admission Procedures for details.
Field/Clinical Placements
Employers who provide our field placement settings require a CLEAR POLICE RECORD CHECK for criminal offenses with vulnerable sector screening before accepting a student into the field placement setting. The record check MUST be obtained by the student at the student's expense prior to the commencement of field placement in semester three. Information and details about applying for a police clearance will be provided to the student prior to placement.
In the event of a shortage of placements or internship sites, you may be required to perform your placement or internship duties during off-hours, which may include the use of online tutorials or a placement during evenings and/or weekends.
Health Requirements
Students must submit proof of a satisfactory medical examination and up-to-date immunization records prior to beginning field placement in semester three. Lack of documented health records and immunizations may result in the restriction of clinical/field placement and therefore may delay and/or prevent completion of the program.
Courses
The curriculum below is for incoming students:
Program Physical Demands Analysis
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Educational Support (Ontario College Diploma) (MTCU Code 51228)
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Provide educational support in compliance with pertinent education-related legislation, standards, regulations and policies, health and safety legislation and regulations, as well as organizational policies, practices and procedures.
- Develop and implement strategies to promote and support positive school climates that contribute to a safe, caring and secure educational setting.
- Collaborate with members of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) team by assisting in the development and revision of the IEPs of learners with exceptionalities.
- Implement components of educational support programs of instruction under the direction and support of the IEP team and/or relevant members of the school community.
- Lead by example to promote empathetic, positive and pro-social behaviour in all learners to facilitate the development of social competence in learners with exceptionalities in accordance with their IEPs.
- Promote the development of independence in, and provide assistance to, learners with exceptionalities in their performance of routine activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) in accordance with their IEPs.
- Develop and implement strategies to support learners with exceptionalities in the appropriate use of assistive technologies and daily living aids in accordance with their IEPs.
- Monitor, document and report on the behaviour, performance and progress of learners with exceptionalities in accordance with their IEPs.
- Prepare and present a plan for engaging in ongoing personal and professional development to promote competence in the educational support field.