Have any parents called the “parent help line” for assistance with home schooling that @AdrianaLaGrange advertised to be especially for parents of kids with disabilities? What was your experience? Let me tell you about mine.

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I called and emailed, when I called I was routed to the general answering line for @YourAlberta. The receptionist didn’t even know what the hotline was, said she had never heard of it. Later that day, I got a call from “Scott”. He asked me why I emailed, and I repeated

2/9

What my email said: that I was seeing what was available in terms of support and help for parents of kids with disabilities as that was what the intent of the hotline was advertised to be. I was then asked what supports my school was providing. I mentioned that

3/9

Because my son is in a Pre-K PUF program that much of his curriculum is about socialization and not necessarily something that translates well through distance learning. He asked if we were doing daily or weekly zoom calls and I said that we had been but our EA was

4/9

Let go so it was no longer an option. He said, pointedly, that “this should be something your teacher is doing”. I responded by telling him that my son’s teacher was creating lessons and visuals for two classes of 3-4 year olds that are comprised mostly of coded children.

5/9

I impressed upon him that group zooms for kids with ASD and other developmental delays are difficult and that I didn’t appreciate the characterization of my son’s teacher as someone who shirks her responsibilities. He then said that most of the help they’re offering

6/9

Is in filing formal complaints against teachers and mediating those conversations. I was appalled, and let him know that it was not appropriate to advertise a hotline as a resource for struggling parents of neurodiverse children when really it’s purpose is to villainize

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Teachers further, as @AdrianaLaGrange and the @Alberta_UCP have already done many times. Is this what things in this province are coming to? Teacher snitch lines? I was supposed to get a follow up call, but missed it and when I returned the call and left a message

8/9

It was never returned. Please let me know here if you did call this line and whether you received a similar message or not. I’m very curious.

CC: @shoffmanAB

#abed #abpoli #ableg

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