Children with disabilities told to stay home from school during Annapolis Valley strike
CBC
Every morning before school, Ashley Corkum gets her two children ready and sends them out the door together to Dr. Arthur Hines Elementary in Summerville, N.S.
Things have been different this week.
Corkum's seven-year-old son, Mack, is staying home while his sister goes to school.
Mack has autism spectrum disorder. While the workers who support him throughout the day are on strike, he and other students from the Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education who have disabilities and health conditions are not allowed to go to school.
"And any day of disparity with these kids really is heartbreaking," Corkum said. "It's absolutely heartbreaking to have to explain to them as the school bus drives by why they can't go."
Corkum is worried staying home with no social interaction will set her son back.
"He does receive full support in school from a wonderful group of resource workers and teaching assistants," she said. "His routine with these folks is critical to his development. Not just his learning, but his overall development in the world. And it's concerning."
This week, Corkum filed a complaint with Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, alleging Mack's human rights are being violated.
Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU) Local 70, representing staff at South Shore Regional Centre for Education, and Local 73, which represents AVRCE staff, had been at the bargaining table for almost a year before voting to strike last week.
Local 73 went on strike on Oct. 23 and Local 70 joined them on Oct. 24.
Both bargaining units include a variety of school staff, like early childhood educators, educational assistants, administrative assistants and tech support. Local 73 has more than 600 members and Local 70 has 142 staff members.
The South Shore centre says that all students are in school, despite the strike.
But it's a different story for students in the Annapolis Valley.
"Some students are not able to be in school without direct support from an educational assistant," said AVRCE spokesperson Kristen Loyst. "In most cases, this is related to safety or personal care support. Schools are checking in regularly with these students and their families during this labour disruption."
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