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THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
[APPLAUSE]
>> The Speaker: THANK YOU.
MEMBER STATEMENTS.
THE MEMBER FROM BARRIE.
>> THANK YOU.
TODAY I'D LIKE TO MAKE A
STATEMENT ABOUT THE PRACTICE
THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN
SIMCOE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
IN THE FALL OF 2010.
THE USE OF LARGE FOAM
BLOCKER PADS ON CHILDREN
WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
UNEQUIVOCALLY COMPROMISES
THEIR DIGNITY AND PROGRESS
MADE FROM THE INTEGRATION OF
THESE STUDENTS INTO OUR
SCHOOL IN THE SIRS PLACE.
ADVOCATES ARE TELLING ME
SCHOOL BOARD FRUS TEES ARE
CALLING CHILDREN WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS THE SEAC KIDS
OR RATHER THE KIDS OF THE
SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THESE STUDENTS ARE BEING
MANAGED WITH RIOT GEAR.
AND AT GROUP OF
SELF-ADVOCATES WITH
DISABILITIES THEMSELVES
WRITE, I QUOTE --
WE WANT TO BE SAFE AND
SUPPORTED IN SCHOOL AND BE
ABLE TO MAKE FRIENDS.
NOW YOU'VE SEPARATED US
APART EVEN MORE.
THE ONLY THING THAT THESE
ARE ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHING
IS THE UNDOING OF COMMUNITY
INTEGRATION.
THE LABELLING AND PUBLIC
HUMILIATION OF OUR MOST
VULNERABLE STUDENTS.
THE CREATION OF A CULTURE OF
FEAR IN OUR CLASSROOMS.
THESE BLOCKER MATS ARE
GENERALLY OUT OF PRACTICE
COUNTRYWIDE FOR THEIR ILL
EFFECTS ON DIGNITY AND
LESSONS LEARNED OVER A
DECADE AGO IN 1998.
A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
WAS ACCIDENTALLY SMOTHERED
IN A GROUP HOME WITH A
BLOCKER MAT IN HAMILTON.
THIS IS WHY INSURANCE
COMPANIES REQUIRE SPECIAL
TRAINING FOR THEIR USE, YET
TRAINING ITSELF CAN ALSO
PREVENT THEIR USE BY
EQUIPPING PROFESSIONALS WITH
A HOST OF OTHER TOOLS
INSTEAD, JUST LIKE IN OTHER
SCHOOL BOARDS.
BLOCKER MATS ARE NOT
ACCEPTABLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL
NEEDS.
FULL STOP.
THEY ARE A VIOLATION OF
THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS.