May 9, 2014 – On May 7 over a hundred students, parents, community members and OPSEU activists attended a solidarity event hosted by OPSEU Local 456 at Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf in Belleville, Ontario. The event was organized to raise awareness for provincial government cutbacks to funding for students who are deaf, blind, deaf-blind and learning disabled.
“Vulnerable students should not have to pay down the deficit” said OPSEU Regional Vice-President and Executive Board Member Chris Cormier “I think the Ministry of Education needs to give its head a shake. This school provides an essential service to these children. The government is attacking their fundamental right to receive a quality education.”
All those who attended the event heard several passionate speeches from students, parents and community associations affected by the cutbacks.
“We need our students to excel” said Rexana Mark through a sign language interpreter. Rexana is a student at Sir James Whitney School and a representative for the school’s Student Parliament.
“How can our students excel when services are being cut? We need one of one services; we need support.”
Also on hand was Erika Stebbers from the Belleville Association for the Deaf who spoke passionately about the need for quality services for children attending the school.
“If the government keeps cutting these services, where are these students going to get a quality education?” said Ms. Stebbers “the government needs to cut back on the number individuals on the sunshine list, not frontline staff providing essential services to children at this school.”
The event was also joined by the National Union’s (NUPGE) Fairness Express tour bus. The big green bus is currently traveling through Region 4 to speak to the public about tax fairness, good jobs, public services and labour rights.
“On behalf of the National Union I would like to extend our solidarity to the students, parents, employees of the Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf” said NUPGE’s Len Bush “students need access to quality education in the country. They also need access to quality jobs when they graduate. Quality public services are one of the solutions to growing income inequality in this country.”
An online petition has been set up to raise awareness and help reverse the cuts to schools for students with disabilities. It currently has over 2000 signatures. The petition can be found here.