Therapy services for students enrolled in CHEO School
CHEO School Authority is a specialized educational program, serving students with complex needs by providing an Integrated education and therapy program. All students admitted to CHEO School are also clients of the CTC and have a primary diagnosis of a physical disability and other associated complex needs. Our students require a multidisciplinary classroom team to develop strategies, promote independence, and utilize adaptive equipment to access curriculum and prepare for transition to a public education setting in grade 1. Students demonstrate rehabilitation needs in two or more of the following therapy areas:
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Speech and Language Pathology
The therapy teams assess the students' therapeutic needs to determine which therapy services will contribute to a child’s skill development. Therapy services that may be provided to CHEO School students include Speech-Language Pathologists (S-LP), Physiotherapists (PT) and Occupational Therapists (OT). Communicative Disorder Assistants (CDA) and Rehabilitation Assistants (RA) also provide support to CHEO School. Therapy is different for each student and may change in frequency throughout the school year. The therapists may also prescribe equipment for use at school and/or home.
During the school day, children may receive physical, occupational and/or speech therapies along with educational programming based on the Ontario Kindergarten Program. The therapy is provided by professional therapists working in a team setting with special education teachers and educational assistants. The teachers, therapists and support staff collaborate to establish individual learning and therapy goals and share the responsibility of programming for the goals of each student.
School Liaison for CHEO School Authority
Services are offered by our School Liaisons, who are Special Education Teachers supervised by the CHEO School Authority Principal. School Liaison staff connect and share information between families, school board staff, and CTC/CHEO service providers to optimize your child’s school experience.
This service includes consultation during key transition times for students, like entering school, switching school boards or moving to secondary or post-secondary education.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for school liaison services, the child or youth must be a current client of CTC with their primary need being support for a physical exceptionality. Services may extend from the year before their transition to primary school in their community, up to grade 12.
What to expect from School Liaison Services
School Liaisons are Special Education Teachers supervised by the CHEO School Authority Principal.
What to expect from School Liaison Services
School Liaisons provide either direct or indirect service models to eligible students:
- School Liaisons provide direct service to the CHEO School Kindergarten program. School Liaisons actively support CHEO School student transitions to the school board selected by the family upon exit from the program. The service shifts to indirect/consultative service for former CHEO School students up to grade 12.
- School Liaisons provide indirect/consultative service to other eligible students, families, CTC/CHEO staff and school board staff when students enter and/or attend one of the nine publicly funded school boards across Eastern Ontario. Indirect service may include consultation during key transition times for students, like entering school, switching school boards or moving to secondary or post-secondary education.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for school liaison services, the child or youth must be a current client of CTC. Eligible students' primary need is support for accommodations of a physical exceptionality. Services may extend from the year before their transition to primary school in their community, up to grade 12.
Please note:
- School Liaisons do not determine services or school placements for students. Special education service delivery model decisions are determined by the school board.
- Parents/Guardians are responsible for selecting and registering at their preferred community school.
- School Liaisons cannot offer behavioural services or educational advocacy.
- Please refer to the CHEO Access Team for other services and supports.
Make a referral
Referrals for the School Liaison service can be made through CHEO Access Team, and will be directed to the principal of CHEO School.
CHEO School staff, including School Liaisons follow a 10-month school calendar. Referrals are not checked during July and August.
More about CHEO School
Coming to CHEO School CHEO School Authority Board
