Section II: School Supports
Children with disabilities can also have requirements for modified building features and services at school as well as aids and devices related to school. Modified building features are at a more structural level, while aids and devices are more personal. There is actually a very low requirement for any type of modified building feature at school among children with disabilities; only about 7% of children with disabilities aged 5 to 14 attending school report such a requirement (9,760 children). Children with disabilities are far more likely to require some type of aid or assistive device within the school system; 70% reported a requirement for some type of aid or device at school (102,950 children).
Among those who do require some type of modified building feature or service at school, over three-quarters of them have their needs fully met; 11% have their needs partially met; while, 12% have their needs completely unmet. (Chart 2.8)
D
Nearly three-quarters of those requiring some type of aid or device at school also had their needs met; 19% had their needs partially met; while 7% had their needs completely unmet. (Chart 2.9)
D
The most commonly required modified building features among children with disabilities at school are ramps and street level entrances (required by 7,720 children). (Table 2.3)
| Table 2.3 | |
| Number of Children with Disabilities Requiring Specific
Modified Building Features at School |
|
| Number Requiring |
|
| Ramp or street level entrance | 7,720 |
| Automatic or easy to open doors | 5,450 |
| Elevator or lift device | *4,040 |
| * Due to low sample size, use number with caution | |
| Source: PALS, 2001 | |
The most commonly required aids or devices at school are tutors or teacher's aides (required by 91,560 children with disabilities); and 24,590 children report a requirement for note-takers. The vast majority of requirements for aids and devices in school are met; however, the unmet need is greatest among those requiring tutors or teacher's aides (8%).
| Table 2.4 | ||
| Number of Children with Disabilities Requiring Specific
Aids/ Devices at School and Percent with an Unmet Need |
||
| Number Requiring |
% Unmet Need |
|
| Tutor or teacher's aides | 91,560 |
8% |
| Note takers | 24,590 |
*1% |
| Recording equipment | 9,530 |
*1% |
| Talking books | 8,770 |
*1% |
| Amplifiers | 7,550 |
** |
| Computer with Braille | 5,760 |
*1% |
| * Due to low sample size, use number with caution | ||
| ** Due to low sample size, estimate cannot be released | ||
| Source: PALS, 2001 | ||