What is a Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) and How Can I Get Involved?

“Things are okay in the class now, but they could be better…”

“We have to be on-top of things, or he’ll slip through the cracks again…”

“She’s not getting enough support, plain and simple…”

If you haven’t spoken these words yourself, you have likely heard them from another family whose child has special education needs. These challenges are all-too common for those of us who have school-age children with physical disabilities.

While it is highly encouraged that families work collaboratively with teachers and principals at the school level to solve individual matters, many of us as parents recognize the ongoing need for systemic change in Special Education. One of the most valuable ways we can get involved is by joining our local school board’s Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC). By joining your local SEAC as an Easter Seals Ontario representative, you have the unique opportunity to advocate for all children with physical disabilities at the school board level.

What is a Special Education Advisory Committee?

The Ontario Education Act requires every district school board to establish a Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC). The members of the committee include:

Volunteer representatives of local associations that serve children and youth with special education needs such as Easter Seals Ontario
Trustees of the school board
Additional Members or Members –at-Large
Members of the school board staff who are non-voting members and act as a resource to the committee.

Why Join a SEAC?

Jeffrey Man, YRCDSB SEAC Member for Easter Seals Ontario on Why You Should Join Your Local SEAC:

“By joining your local SEAC, the contributions you make can have a direct impact on the lives of your kids, family members, and friends. Maybe you will work towards increasing access to formal testing at an earlier age, leading to the possibility of more early and effective interventions. Perhaps you will contribute to increasing funding that can be used to hire educational assistants. Maybe you will increase awareness of disability related issues, leading to broader systemic change. All of these things have real impacts on people doing well.”

What are the responsibilities of SEAC?

The Ontario Education Act defines that the role of SEAC is to:

Make recommendations to the school board Trustees regarding special education programs and services Consult with parents and the community about the Special Education Report
Make the Special education report available to the public and post a copy on the school board website.

What are the responsibilities of SEAC Members who represent Easter Seals Ontario?

SEAC members are to attend 10 meetings each school year, from September to June. SEAC members who represent Easter Seals Ontario are responsible for:

Providing feedback on school board budgets, services, and programs relating to Special Education
Sharing information about the SEAC activities with Easter Seals Ontario
Sharing information from Easter Seals Ontario with SEAC

Will Easter Seals Ontario Prepare Me for My New Role?

Absolutely! Easter Seals Ontario provides:

On-boarding training for all new SEAC representatives
Regular trainings throughout the school year as new developments emerge from the Ministry of Education
Plenty of reference material
Bimonthly virtual conferences (a great opportunity to convene with SEAC reps all over Ontario)

Additionally, the Family Engagement Officer is always available to support you and answer any questions you have about the role.

Who is eligible to become a member of SEAC?

Members of SEAC must be:

Over the age of 18 years
A Canadian citizen
Resident in the school board area
An elector for the school board (an elector is a supporter who directs their taxes to the specific school board)

SEAC members cannot be employed by the school board.

To find your school board website visit: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/sbinfo/boardList.html

Additional Resources

The Provincial Parent Association Advisory Committee on Special Education Advisory Committees (PAAC on SEAC) is a committee of provincial parent associations, including Easter Seals Ontario, that support SEAC members. Their website has resources for SEAC members including the PAAC on SEAC Effective Practices Handbook for SEAC Members (2010).

You can also find out more about special education in Ontario and the roles and requirements of SEACs at the Ministry of Education SEAC Webpage. The webpage includes: