Students with Special Needs

All students should have equitable access to learning, opportunities for achievement and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of their educational programs.

The purpose of special education is to enable the equitable participation of students with special needs in the educational system in British Columbia.

Students with special needs have disabilities of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional or behavioural nature, or have a learning disability or have exceptional gifts or talents.

The challenges of working with students with special needs are often exacerbated in rural schools and small districts by the relative scarcity of itinerant professional support and the difficulty in accessing training for support staff.

On the other hand, personnel in small schools are often able to get to know their students better and to personalize educational experiences to meet their individual needs. This is of particular benefit to children with disabilities, as well as to those who are gifted.

In January to May 2007, Gold Trail School District presented an online series for educators on Learner Support strategies.  See the archived sessions from this series.


If you have a promising practice to share, please contact the Rural Education Network.

The Ministry’s Special Education Unit has developed the Manual of Policies, Procedures and Guidelines as well as an extensive list of resources and services to assist educators in meeting the learning needs of children with special needs.

The SET-BC Learning Centre provides classroom resources and training modules on assistive technology.

The Special Education Association, the Learning Assistance Teachers Association and the Association of Educators of the Gifted, Talented and Creative Children of BC also provide support for teachers working with students with special needs.

The British Columbia Council of Administrators of Special Education is another valuable resource for educators working in this field.

For the Resource Directory for Post-secondary Students with Disabilities, visit the BC Advanced Education Adult Special Education page.

 

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