Psychological Services > Services > Special Education

Psychological Services staff members are educated at the Masters or Doctoral level. Specific training has been obtained regarding child and adolescent development as well as learning and behaviour disorders associated with these age groups. Services are provided at your child's school, in accordance with the standards of professional practice of the College of Psychologists of Ontario and the terms of the Regulated Health Professions Act of Ontario.

Psychological Services staff provide services for students who are experiencing school difficulties because of:

• attention and disruptive behaviour disorders
• learning disabilities
• unusually advanced or delayed intellectual ability
• social problems
• emotional problems
• Pervasive Developmental Disorders
• other childhood problems

ASSESSMENT

Psychological Assessment consists of:

• administering tests specifically designed to measure student's abilities, achievement, social-emotional functioning, and behavioural characteristics behavioural observations
• interviews with parents, students, and teachers to obtain their viewpoints
• providing recommendations to school staff and parents to help the student be successful

This information may be used by an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) to assist with decisions regarding students with exceptional learning needs.

COUNSELLING AND INTERVENTIONS

Psychological Services staff are trained to provide counselling to students who experience difficulties which interfere with school success, such as problems in:

behaviour

• social adjustment
• emotional development
• academic performance

Counselling may be done individually with a student, or in groups, depending on the student's needs. Staff can facilitate referrals to outside agencies and other school board services. Additional services include early interventions, crisis interventions. Informed consent is obtained prior to providing any interventions.