COVID-19 and students with a disability: the Protecteur du citoyen makes recommendations

  • June 3, 2020
Corps

Because of the pandemic, many schools will not re-open until next fall. As a result, young people with disabilities will no longer be able to attend their special class, nor use their school’s daycare centre. Their parents must therefore be with them full time, which proves exhausting. Moreover, the parents’ ability to return to work or resume their regular activities is greatly curtailed. They also fear that their child, deprived of the adapted services provided at school, will regress.

Furthermore, in the Protecteur du citoyen’s opinion, currently the service offering is unfair. Certain specialized schools are open. Their special-needs students have access to their services. Young people in the same situation, but who do not attend these schools, are penalized.

The Protecteur du citoyen considers that measures should be introduced promptly to help the families concerned. That is why it has made three recommendations to the Minister of Education and Higher Education.

The Protecteur du citoyen is following developments closely.