Ontario, Canada's most populous province, is home to some of the best special needs schools in the country. Ontario is where you can find diverse cultures, lifestyles and places, including Canada's capital, Ottawa, and other major cities such as the provincial capital of Toronto and its significant suburbs including Brampton, Mississauga, Ajax, Pickering, Thornhill and Barrie.
What Special Needs Private Schools Offer
Special needs schools offer alternative education and specialized support for students with any kind of physical disability, behavioural disorder, mental disability or communicative disorder. For example, private schools are often well-equipped to support children with specific issues like autism, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) or ADD (attention deficit disorder), and Asperger's syndrome. Special needs private schools help students in ways unspecialized schools cannot.
Common Concerns About Private School
Q: How will I pay the school’s tuition? A: You have multiple financial planning tools, such as budgeting or trust funds that would be taxed significantly less than your income. (Learn more about tax breaks for private school parents.) There are also other external resources. Four such options are common. First, you could search for community support, as plenty of small communities will assist you in funding your child’s education through helpful organizations (e.g., The Rotary Club). Next, you could apply for a medical tax break for enrolling your child in a special needs school. Third, you may apply for scholarships and bursaries, a process that you should begin 16 months before your planned time of enrolment. Finally, if you send your child to a faith-based school for special needs, your tuition may count as a charitable donation for which you will receive a tax receipt.
Q: Will my child with special needs fall behind in a private school? A: Special needs private schools have smaller class sizes than other types of schools. The class may resemble a supportive learning group. As such, your child’s instructors will be able to monitor his or her unique needs. Any child that falls behind will have the opportunity to catch up through extra help sessions—a staple of private schools.
Q: Will my child with special needs have a chance to socially interact with other students? A:Yes! First and foremost, small class sizes foster participatory classroom environments. Second and perhaps most importantly, private schools for special needs students have the capacity to offer a plethora of extracurricular programs or activities. Therefore, your son or daughter will have the chance to interact with other students who share some common interest like chess or dancing.
Q: How do I choose a special needs school? A: Here are a few useful tips on finding the best school:
Ask a lot of questions. Speak to all stakeholders in a school (e.g., students, parents, teachers, administrators).
Try to imagine whether your child will flourish in that school.
Let a school’s admissions team decide whether there is a fit. Provide as much information as you can about your child, so the school could determine whether it is the best match for your family.
List of Special Needs Schools Ontario
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