Special Education - Advisory Committee (SEAC)

About Us ...
S.E.A.C. - Who Are We?
S.E.A.C. Committee Membership
Did You Know That ...
S.E.A.C. Meeting Schedule Information (Agenda, Minutes)...
Contact Us

ABOUT US ...

SEAC members are expected to:

advise and recommend to the Board of Trustees on special education programs and services relative to:
- annual review of Special Education Program
- special education budget
- staffing
- staff training and development
- program philosophy, design, modification and delivery
- instructional equipment and materials
- accommodation and playgrounds
- transportation - policies and practices
- community resources
respond to the needs of all exceptional pupils within the board
be available as a resource for parents of exceptional students
acquire and maintain a working knowledge of special education programs and services
advise SEAC colleagues of concerns relative to the students, parents and association whom he/she represents.

S.E.A.C. - WHO ARE WE?

Autism Society, Waterloo County Chapter: dedicated to providing goals, to ensure a secure future for those with autism and pervasive developmental disorders.

Cambridge Association for Mentally Handicapped: believes that all people who have a mental handicap should live in a state of dignity.

Catholic Family Counselling Centre: non-denominational, not-for-profit counselling centre which is dedicated to providing to children, adolescents, adults, couples and families, individual and/or group counselling.

CNIB Southwest Region: is a nationwide, community-based, registered charity committed to public education, research and the vision health of all Canadians. CNIB provides the services and support necessary to enjoy a good quality of life while living with vision loss.

Community Living Cambridge: works with individuals, families, and groups to advocate for and provide support for, people with developmental challenges to be fully integrated members of the community.

Easter Seals Ontario: is dedicated to helping children, youth and young adults with physical disabilities achieve their full individual potential and future independence.

Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region: to support the children and the families who require the care of Family and Children's Services of Waterloo Region. Along with its statutory responsibility to protect children in danger of physical and emotional harm, the FCS agency, itself a charitable, nonprofit social service organization, provides children with a nurturing environment in which to heal and grow, and provides parents with the help and opportunities they need to create a better life for their families.

Learning Disabilities Association: dedicated to assisting those with learning disabilities and their families in meeting their expressed needs by providing:

support, guidance and resource information
opportunities for sharing information and common concerns
encouraging research and supportive appropriate legislative initiatives.

Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy: support group that provides a service of communication and advocacy through parent networking.

Waterloo Regional Down Syndrome Society: support group for parents and professionals. Through monthly meetings with guest speakers we provide network opportunities to share current information on Down Syndrome.

Waterloo Regional Police: committed to a leadership role within the community it serves and forming strong partnerships with the community. SEAC affords us an opportunity to realize our goals and foster positive relationships with a number of other agencies.

W-W Voice for Hearing Impaired Children: dedicated to ensuring that all hearing impaired children have the right to develop their ability to listen and speak and have access to services which will enable them to listen and speak. We are a support group for parents and offer workshops for parents and professionals.

S.E.A.C. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Chair

Clare Hitchens, Waterloo Regional Down Syndrome Society

2009 - 2010 SEAC MEMBERS

SEAC Representative	Organization	Organization Contact Information
Ella Blazewicz	Community Living Cambridge	519-623-7490
John Gilbert	Waterloo Regional Police	519-653-7700
Clare Hitchens	Waterloo Regional Down Syndrome Society	519-884-0710
Andrea Prier	Learning Disabilities Association	519-743-9091
Sandy Matos	CNIB Southwest Region	519-742-3536
Valerie McIntyre	Autism Society Ontario	519-590-3471
Wayne Buchholtz	WCDSB Trustee	519-578-3660
Tara O’Brien	Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy	519-886-1670
Greg Reitzel	WCDSB Trustee	519-578-3660
Rhonda Dalrymple	Easter Seals
Cameron Scott	Catholic Family Counselling	519-743-6333 400 Queen Street S., Kitchener, ON
John Spinak	Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region	519-576-1329 200 Ardelt Ave, Kitchener, ON
Tammie White	W-W Voice for Hearing Impaired Children	58 Chapel Hill Drive, Kitchener, ON N2R 1N2

Staff Resource

Gerry Clifford - Superintendent of School Support Services

DID YOU KNOW THAT ...

School boards are legally required to provide appropriate programs and services to all students regardless of their needs. Further to that, the Education Act (Section 82, Subsection 2) requires that each school board "shall establish a Special Education Advisory Committee". In keeping with this legislation, and our own Catholic philosophy of serving all students in a Christ-centered environment, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board has a Special Education Advisory Committee.

SEAC is committed to ensuring that each student continuously grows in a holistic sense-spiritually, physically, emotionally and socially. Following this mandate SEAC is responsible for making recommendations to the Board of Trustees in respect of any matter related to the development, review, and provision of education programs and services for students with exceptional needs.

The legal definition of an exceptional student is one who’s behavioural, communication, intellectual, and physical abilities are such that he/she needs a modified learning program. Special education services are the support personnel and equipment necessary to implement a special education program.

SEAC Committee membership is presently comprised of 12 local associations and community representatives, and two school board trustees, all of whom are appointed by the full Board of Trustees for a three year term. The Supervisory Officer responsible for Special Education serves as administrative resource to the Committee.

S.E.A.C. MEETING SCHEDULE ...

SEAC meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Meetings take place in the Board Room at 35 Weber St. W., -- Unit A, Kitchener and are open to the public. Delegations wishing to address the Committee must register five calendar days prior to the meeting by calling 578-3660 and speaking with the office of the Superintendent of Student Services. Each delegation will be allowed 10 minutes to present.

UPCOMING MEETING AGENDA 2009- 2010

March 3, 2010

2009 - 2010 MEETING MINUTES

September	October	November	December	January
February	March	April	May	June

2008 - 2009 MEETING MINUTES

September	October	November	December	January
February	March	April	May	June

2007 - 2008 MEETING MINUTES

September	October	November	December	January
February	March	April	May	June

2006 - 2007 MEETING MINUTES

September	October	November	December	January
February	March	April	May	June

CONTACT US

Special Education Advisory Committee
Waterloo Catholic District School Board
35 Weber St. W., -- Unit A
PO Box 91116
Kitchener, ON, Canada
N2G 4G2
519.578.3660, ext. 2285
email: info@wcdsb.ca (Please put SEAC in the subject line of your email).