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Specialists needed in Surrey schools

Surrey - The Editor, Re: "Both sides deserve detention," the Now editorial, June 3. As our Surrey teachers are in their second week of job action, I feel compelled to share our son's story.

In the mid '90s, while in Grade 5, he was diagnosed as "severely learning disabled." Immediately, significant learning assistance was made available to him.In Grade 8, he entered North Surrey Secondary and was registered in the CELD program. This was a program whereby he received supports such as scribes, the use of a computer, learning assistance help, and an exemption from taking French.The teachers in the CELD program taught him coping strategies and instilled in him an awareness that "learns differently" did not need to be a barrier for him.Our son's academic journey has continued to the point where he is now working on completing his Ph.D. in Anthropology at Carleton University in Ottawa.It is my strong belief that the support he received while a student in Surrey was crucial to him being able to achieve his dream of becoming a university professor.Sadly, the CELD program and many others like it have fallen victim to chronic underfunding of our school system. How many children will be denied the chance our son had before appropriate funding is restored to all schools?Sue SandersonSurrey