Edmonton Public Schools offers several options to students whose diagnosis is in the Autism Spectrum. Many students reach their potential as successful learners and as fully participating members of the school community in inclusive programs. Other students enroll and participate in special classes dedicated to specific ranges of skill and abilities.

Parents are encouraged to maintain close communication with the school. Preparing a list of questions to discuss at meetings with the teacher or school principal helps to ensure that any concerns are addressed in a timely fashion. Topics for discussion might include classroom supports, medication/health procedures, supervision during recess and lunch periods, emergency procedures, student behavior expectations, peer relationships, and field trip policies and practices.

Inclusion in the schools refers not merely to setting, but also to specially designed instruction and support for students with special needs who are enrolled in regular classrooms in neighborhood school. The Edmonton Public School Board supports inclusion of students with special needs and offers a variety of opportunities for this to occur. Parents wishing to register at the community school are invited to contact the principal to set up an initial meeting. At the meeting, it is important to indicate that inclusion is the preferred choice of the family. This is also the time for parents to share information about the student’s strengths and needs, to discuss their goals, and to provide information regarding health concerns.

Assessments completed by previous educators, psychologists, and other specialists, as well as the current Individual Program Plan also provide useful descriptions of the student’s profile of strengths and needs.

Congregated programs such as the Interactions Programs, the Community Learning Skills Programs, and the Opportunity Programs provide instruction in smaller classes, with a safe and secure environment, close and constant adult supervision, teachers who have training or experience providing communication and behavioral management problems, regular routines, and consistency. Interactions Programs focus upon provision of service to students with autism spectrum disorders that result in difficulties with communication and socialization. Students enrolled in these programs have a wide range of abilities and skill. Some achieve at grade level while others demonstrate severe delays in several areas of development.

The Interactions Program helps students to gain academic and life skills in keeping with individual needs and abilities. The program also teaches socially appropriate behavior and communication skills in a variety of situations.