In school, they may have difficulty attaining the academic skills associated with their grade level, but teachers should not see their disabilities as predicting a limit to their potential. These students often have difficulty understanding concepts of the same complexity and acquiring skills and knowledge at the same rate as other students. Their programs should be adapted to meet these unique learning needs. At the secondary level, functional vocational skills may begin to take precedence over academic skills. During the graduation years, preparation for work and independent living is often the highest priority.
Some students have disabilities in addition to their primary handicap.
These may include physical disabilities, visual or hearing impairment, chronic health conditions and behavioural disorders. The effect of these additional disabilities is to magnify the degree of overall handicap. See Appendix 3 for a list of Ministry resource guides for specific areas of needs.