My son is a special needs student at Vickers School. He is not a full time student of the developmental education program, but utilizes its resources to help him thrive in the mainstream program. These resources allow him to learn in a way that is suited to him, while also staying with his peers and learning from them. The students of this program, and those who utilize it's resources, represent one of the most vulnerable populations in our city, and they deserve to have their educational journey respected. Many children, but especially those with special needs, require a familiar and comfortable environment in order to succeed. The decision to force these children to adapt to an new environment should not be made without consulting the families affected and express understanding of the unique needs of these children, but it has been. I don't speak for everyone, but I believe I speak for many when I say, the decision to move the developmental education program is not in the best interest of the students who utilize it. The lack of transparency from Sask Rivers as to the decisions being made and why they are being made is truly appalling. Why is it acceptable to force this change upon these children without any open ended communication, simply because many of them don't have a voice? 

It's hard to truly understand what it is to parent a special needs child, until you do. Everyday is truly an uphill battle to obtain and maintain the resources required for them to not only survive, but thrive. 

Let's ensure that our children are treated with the dignity, respect, and attention they deserve in their educational journey. It is important now more than ever to stand together as a community in support of our children. Please, sign this petition to stop the relocation of the developmental education program from Vickers to Riverside School.