their complex disability-related needs, medical, therapeutic and other health
related needs. The Ministry of Education’s Policy/Program Memorandum 81
(“PPM 81”) articulates this delivery of support services, and the shared
responsibility to provide these services amongst school boards, the Ministry of
Education, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ministry of
Community and Social Services, depending on the nature of the service
required.^33 Some health support services include speech language therapy,
speech remediation, administration and injection of medication, catheterization,
assistance with mobility, and assistance with feeding and toileting.
The PPM 81, and the Interministerial Guidelines for the Provision of Speech and
Language Services (as applicable to the Education Act)^34 provide the starting
point for determining the type of health support services required and which of
the three Ministries is responsible, or the manner in which that responsibility is
shared.
A comprehensive review of SHSS was conducted and a final report released in
2010, titled Review of School Health Support Services: Final Report.^35 The
Report provides a helpful overview of the program and identifies areas needing
redress.
- Demonstration/Provincial schools
Provincial Schools and Demonstration Schools are governed by the Ministry of
Education directly, and not by school boards. These schools provide alternate
(^33) Ontario Ministry of Education, Policy/Program Memorandum No. 81 – Provision of health
Support Services in School Settings, (issued July 19, 1984), online: Ministry of Education
<http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/81.html 34 >.
Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Community and Social Services,
Interministerial Guidelines for the Provision of Speech and language Services (as applicable to
the Education Act), (September 1988), online: Ministry of Education
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/guide.html; see also Ministry of Education, A Model
for the Provision of Speech and Language Services, online: Ministry of Education
<http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/model.html 35 >.
Deloitte & Touche LLP, Review of School Health Support Services: Final Report, (July 2010),
online: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/contact/ccac/docs/deloitte_shss_review_report.pdf.