Care changes worry mom of special needs student

The mother of a child with special needs is speaking out about changes to the support her child receives from educational associates, or EAs.

Tamarie Hudon says her eight-year-old daughter has been doing well at school but relies on an EA to ensure she can get the most from her lessons.

The girl, who can't be identified due to an unrelated reason, attends school in Asquith, west of Saskatoon. Hudon says for the past four years her daughter has been supported, for the most by, by one EA.

That person helps the child with everything from school lessons to getting dressed to go out in the cold.

Now, Hudon has learned that four EA's will rotate through the child's day, a change that she believes will be disruptive.

"I think every child needs consistency and I think that's not consistent," Hudon told CBC News. "A child with special needs needs consistency even more."

According to Hudon, officials said the change in routine was due to provincial government policies.

"It's very upsetting," Hudon said. "Four EA's a day is not right. She needs one. One person she can trust and knows her inside and out."

Officials from the Prairie Spirit School Division declined to be interviewed about the situation but provided a prepared statement. The division said it wants each student to work as independently as possible with supports from a number of adults that may vary throughout the school day.

The division added that it monitors those supports and makes adjustments as needed.

Hudon said she is hoping the school division will reconsider its decision.

Recently, the union that represents EAs raised concerns about education ministry policies that led to cuts in the ranks of EAs, also known as Educational Assistants in some school divisions.