Children in Nova Scotia have the legal right to access education free from unreasonable barriers or limitations. Consequently, your child’s Regional Centre for Education is legally obligated to accommodate your child’s needs up to the point of undue hardship.
Planning ahead and the school’s Duty to Accommodate
School faculty and staff have a legal duty to accommodate your child’s needs. Providing the school with information about your child’s specific disability and needs is key to ensuring that sufficient accommodation is provided. Maintaining a relationship with the Regional Centre for Education is key to ensuring your child’s needs are met throughout his or her education.
Examples of accommodations include:
- Receiving school materials in an accessible format;
- Font and text sizes;
- Colour vs black and white;
- Use of a guide dog;
- Assistance with note-taking;
- Curriculum modifications;
- Assistive technology; and,
- Tutoring.
Promoting self-advocacy
It is important to encourage your child to self-advocate by communicating with you and their teachers if they face difficulties because of their disability. Keeping an open line of communication will facilitate the adjustment of the school’s accommodations based on your child’s changing needs throughout their education.