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/inclusive 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/inclusive 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.
Courses
The curriculum below is for incoming students:
Semester 1
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
|
EDA100
|
Child Development & The Exceptional Learner I
|
3
|
|
EDA102
|
Cognition, Learning & Behaviour I
|
4
|
|
EDA103
|
Foundations Of Special Education
|
3
|
|
EDA109
|
Students With Exceptionalities
|
4
|
Semester 2
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
|
EDA200
|
Child Development & Exceptional Learner II
|
3
|
|
EDA210
|
Personal Care & Basic Pharmacology
|
3
|
|
ELEC1031
|
Choose 1 3 UC Elective Course
|
3
|
|
EDA202
|
Cognition, Learning & Behaviour II
|
3
|
|
EDA203
|
Foundations In Literacy And Numeracy
|
4
|
Semester 3
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
|
EDA300
|
Educational Programming Techniques I
|
3
|
|
EDA302
|
Applied Behaviour Strategies
|
4
|
|
EDA301
|
Introduction To Professional Practice
|
3
|
|
EDA304
|
Field Placement Seminar I
|
1
|
Semester 4
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
|
EDA402
|
Educational Programming Techniques II
|
3
|
|
EDA405
|
Career & Employment Strategies
|
3
|
|
EDA401
|
Field Placement Seminar II
|
1
|
|
EDA212
|
Technology To Facilitate Learning
|
3
|
Past Cohorts:
Semester 1
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| EDA100 |
Child Development & The Exceptional Learner I |
3 |
| EDA102 |
Cognition, Learning & Behaviour I |
4 |
| EDA103 |
Foundations Of Special Education |
3 |
| ENG107 |
College Writing |
3 |
| ELEC1030 |
Choose 1 Elective Course |
3 |
| EDA109 |
Students With Exceptionalities |
4 |
Semester 2
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| EDA200 |
Child Development & Exceptional Learner II |
3 |
| EDA210 |
Personal Care & Basic Pharmacology |
3 |
| EDA212 |
Technology To Facilitate Learning |
3 |
| ELEC1030 |
Choose 1 Elective Course |
3 |
| EDA202 |
Cognition, Learning & Behaviour II |
3 |
| EDA203 |
Foundations In Literacy And Numeracy |
4 |
Semester 3
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| EDA300 |
Educational Programming Techniques I |
3 |
| EDA302 |
Applied Behaviour Strategies |
4 |
| EDA301 |
Introduction To Professional Practice |
3 |
| EDA307 |
Field Placement I |
8 |
| EDA304 |
Field Placement Seminar I |
1 |
| ELEC1030 |
Choose 1 Elective Course |
3 |
Semester 4
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| EDA402 |
Educational Programming Techniques II |
3 |
| EDA405 |
Career & Employment Strategies |
3 |
| EDA412 |
Field Placement II |
12 |
| EDA401 |
Field Placement Seminar II |
1 |
Pre-Placement Requirements
St. Clair College has partnered with Synergy Gateway Inc to provide you access to Verified - a platform that is used by students at other post-secondary institutions across Ontario for the purpose of digitally collecting placement requirements related to placement(s). Synergy Gateway Inc will provide support and clearance to help with your required documentation. You will be required to complete an Electronic Requirements Verification (ERV) Review through the Verified platform in order to receive clearance to begin your clinical placement. You will be provided access to "Verified" via a secure username and password. You will use Verified to:
- Upload your pre-placement requirements documentation for review.
- Book your Electronic Requirements Verification (ERV) service (this is a service that reviews the documents you have uploaded and provides you a status as to your eligibility to begin placements).
- Track your ongoing requirements compliance.
Each student will receive log-in credentials to access Verified that will be sent to your St. Clair College email account. Please check your inbox, spam and junk mail folders for an email from the "Synergy Help Desk". You will be required to create a new password upon logging in. Be sure to view the video user guides and student guidebook to learn how to use the Verified platform.
Any associated fees for Synergy Gateway Inc to complete the pre-placement requirements are the sole responsibility of the students:
- Synergy Review Fee: $50.50 + tax
- Synergy Follow-Up Review Fee: $10.00 + tax
It is mandatory that students complete their ERV service through Verified to be eligible for your upcoming clinical placement.
Once your account has been set up with Verified, inquiries can be directed to Synergy Gateway Inc at www.Synergyhelps.com. You will need to submit a Help Desk ticket. Their Help Desk hours are Monday to Friday: 10 am - 3 pm, excluding holidays.
** Please note: If you are an International student completing a placement, you will require a valid COOP Work Permit.
Requirements
(Please refer to your Synergy communications for full details)
Additional Placement Requirements
- The successful completion of all Year 1 EDA courses
- Concurrently enrolled in the respective placement seminar course
- Student field placements are assigned. Personal requests for placement cannot be accommodated
- Reliable transportation is required, as students may be placed anywhere in Windsor-Essex County. Students are responsible for their own travel and costs related to their field placement experiences
- Students will be expected to wear professional attire and conform to the professional requirements of their placement provider
- Field placement hours may vary from one school/site to another, but are typically a 7-8 hours period between 8am - 5pm EST. In exceptional circumstances, alternative placements may be arranged, which may include hours outside of this and/or online experiences.
This is to make you aware that, although a COVID-19 vaccination is not required to attend St. Clair College, most of our placement sites require students to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to be eligible to attend. Students who are not fully vaccinated cannot be provided with a placement for their program and, therefore, will not be able to complete their programs. Please be advised that COVID-19 booster shots and/or other requirements may become mandatory for placement, however, they are not currently required.
- Student placements are assigned at the discretion of the program.
- Students may be required to obtain further clearances for placement at the discretion of the placement site.
- Student personal requests for placement cannot be accommodated.
- Placements may be outside the Windsor/Chatham area (& could possibly expand throughout the province)
- Students are responsible for their own accommodation.
- Students are responsible for their own travel and all costs of placements.
- Students are responsible for the cost of scrub uniforms/footwear and equipment (such as a stethoscope, a watch with a second hand) and other incidentals as required.
- Placement schedules may include shifts on days, afternoons, weekends and holidays throughout the program based on placement needs and agency availability.
Your Investment
The standard tuition and compulsory fees for the current academic year:
2024-2025 Tuition Fees
For programs with Experiential Learning (Work Placement/Internship): Costs for accommodation, if needed, travel and related expenses are at the student's own expense. It is recommended for most programs, that students have access to a laptop or desktop computer while away from home during experiential learning periods.
Textbooks and other materials are in addition to Tuition Fees. Textbook prices may be found on the Bookstore website.
Please be aware that tuition and compulsory fees are subject to adjustment each year. The College reserves the right to change, amend or alter fees as necessary without notice or prejudice.
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.
Educational Support, two year Ontario diploma (MTCU Code 51228) - Effective 2025
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Comply with legislation, standards, regulations, policies, practices, and procedures in the provision of educational support.
- Support learner development with evidence-based behaviour and mental health strategies with a focus on self-regulation.
- Collaborate as part of a multi-disciplinary team to design and implement evidence-based educational support strategies, practices, and programs.
- Model empathetic, positive, and pro-social behaviours to facilitate the development of social competence in all learners and contribute to safe and equitable learning communities.
- Promote independence and/or provide assistance in the performance of routine and instrumental activities of daily living.
- Choose and implement assistive technologies and daily living aids to build capacity in learners.
- Monitor, document, and report on the behaviour, performance, and progress of learners.
- Create strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance performance, maintain currency, and foster holistic self-care.