B.C. school district backpedals after excluding student with complex needs from field trip
Global News
Grade 6 student Sophia Burrell lives with autism, epilepsy and impaired vision, and according to her parents, "going swimming and water has always been a huge light of her life."
A 12-year-old girl with complex needs will be allowed to go on a field trip with her classmates after journalists began pressing the Langley School District about the lack of accommodations it was providing.
Grade 6 student Sophia Burrell lives with autism, epilepsy and impaired vision, and according to her parents, “going swimming and water has always been a huge light of her life.” She’s a “great swimmer” and has “enjoyed immensely” previous trips to the water park with her family.
Leah and Stephen Burrell were told last week, however, that she would not be able to go on a West Langley Elementary School trip to the Cultus Lake Water Park on Thursday due to safety concerns that were never specified. The Burrells said the Langley School District, SD35 supported the principal’s decision and also referenced WorkSafeBC issues.
“Other than a WorkSafe issue, we haven’t been told what the possible safety issues are or any resolution for them,” Stephen said Tuesday.
“She’s been very excited about this, and of course she listens to her peers when she’s at school and has their excitement as well about this. For her now, not to be able to go — she’s very aware of that.”
Global News spoke with Sophia and her parents just before the Langley School District reversed course, called a press conference, and said Sophia would be allowed to go on the field trip late on Tuesday afternoon.
A brief email sent to Leah and Stephen from the district’s assistant superintendent of schools, Marcello Moino, offered no explanation as to what the safety concerns were and what had changed since last Friday, when they learned Sophia would be excluded.
“As we have indicated in our last emails to you, we have continued communicating with WorkSafe and Cultus Lake Waterpark. We now have a plan in place that will allow all students to attend this field trip on Thursday, including Sophia,” the Tuesday email states.
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