Epilepsy Ontario is presenting a free information webinar Jan. 23 aimed at developing clear messaging about the kind of educational supports children with epilepsy need.
The webinar will bring together Special Education Advisory Committee 
(SEAC) representatives from across Ontario, including many who will be advocating for the creation of protocols outlining supports that should be made available to students with epilepsy and their families.
There are epilepsy representatives on SEACs throughout Ontario but this is their first opportunity to convene at the same time with other SEAC representatives.
“This is an attempt to bring those SEAC representatives together to discuss their roles as well as how to be an effective SEAC representative, and it’s also the first step towards creating a provincial education agenda for those epilepsy SEAC representatives,” explains Epilepsy Ontario executive director Rozalyn Werner-Arcé.
Every Ontario school board is mandated by the Ministry of Education to have a SEAC. SEACs advise school boards on special education for children with all types of special learning needs, including epilepsy.
Aside from SEAC representatives, the webinar will benefit parents of students with epilepsy and other special needs and anyone else interested in the education system.
The webinar will help participants better understand:
– The role of SEACs and their members
– How SEACs can influence decisions and policy at the local school board level
– How to become a more effective SEAC member, including how to bring forward issues related to students with epilepsy
Lynn Ziraldo, executive director of the Learning Disabilities Association of York Region and respected education advocate, will give webinar participants insight into SEACs and how to bring the epilepsy agenda to the forefront.
Werner-Arcé says the best possible outcome from the webinar would be to continue the conversation about creating a clear picture of what children with special needs and their families should expect from the education system.
“Hopefully, people will find value in coming together and want to continue to meet to start to develop an epilepsy agenda,” she says.
Please e-mail [email protected] to book your registration.
Ziraldo is willing to take questions before the webinar and address them during the session. Please forward your questions to: [email protected].
To join the webinar, go to http://ontariobraininstitute.adobeconnect.com/seac/ to login. You can call in at 416-764-8662/1-888-884-4534, participant code: 7605062#.
Writer: Deron Hamel
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