Special Education Program

Fostering the education of First Nation students who have special needs is an integral part of the Government of Canada's overall commitment to help First Nation students succeed.

The Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada(AANDC) Special Education Program is designed to help eligible students identified with high-cost special needs to access quality programs and services that are culturally sensitive and reflective of generally accepted provincial/territorial standards. AANDC's Special Education Program consists of two major components:

Direct Services – these classroom and school-based services focus directly on meeting the First Nation student needs, such as student assessments and professional services (e.g. education psychologists, speech and language therapists, counsellors) for the student. At least 75% of AANDC's special education funding is used for direct services.

Indirect Services – these services are provided to eligible First Nation recipients for the development of special education programs and services such as professional development for teachers, para-professionals and parents and research and development of special education approaches and programs.

Services provided under the Special Education Program are based on the understanding that each First Nation student with special education needs is unique and requires a customized program to meet their individual needs in order to best support their success.