Homeschooling and ODSP

[normanbarrett]

Why does ODSP have the right to require a Doctor's authorization for a
parent on ODSP to homeschool their child when it is entirely legal for
a parent outside of ODSP to homeschool as they choose without a
Doctor's say so? Do you deal with this issue?

[jbkeh]

Probably has something to do with that word "Disability"....

Since you are collecting money from the government on the basis of
being "disabled", the government is therefore "aware" that there is the
possibility of an impediment which might conflict with the provision of
a full education regimen to the child. (The government is NOT "aware"
of any impediment for people not on ODSP unless another agency such as
Children's Aid gets involved.)

Once "aware", the government MUST act to ensure the education of the
child, hence the requirement for verification by a doctor that you are
capable of providing it. (In actuality, it is a CYA for the
government.)

[Patricia Duck]

ODSP prefers all kids attend a regular school so this is probably a deterent
for them.This is also very costly as you have to join a Homeschool
Association
and buy all the books for each year and they are tested by government
officials periodically.
I knew a friend that homeschooled 3 kids.
Pat

[abrowne]

NB,

This is just one more area where ODSP recipients are

treated second class.  I have been busy challenging a

number of issues, including special diet and some

matters around self-employment and employment

supports.  These things certainly do need to be questioned

and let THEM give you an explanation.

A

normanbarrett <norman...@porchlight.ca> wrote:

Why does ODSP have the right to require a Doctor's authorization for a
parent on ODSP to homeschool their child when it is entirely legal for
a parent outside of ODSP to homeschool as they choose without a
Doctor's say so?

---

Do you Yahoo!?
Next-gen email? Have it all with the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.

[Michael Hampson]

I agree that having this requirement on odsp receipients but not the rest
of society is an issue that is tantamount to buraucratic abuse and a breach
of our human rights. I would hope this topic be hotly debated here.
thinkatw...@sympatico.ca
>
>
>

[normanbarrett]

I may not have explained myself properly. ODSP requires a Doc note
saying the child cannot attend regular school for whatever reasons,
yet, once a parent signs the School Board form taking on sole
responsibility for their child's eduction that is the end of it. No Doc
note is needed by the board. A parent can choose to homeschool for
whatever the reason and does not need to comply with anyone. The parent
can teach whatever they choose. No Government intervention, no testing
and no criteria to belong to any group. This is all legislation and not
up for interpretation, yet, ODSP, states that unless a parent has a
medical note showing good reason for the homeschooling, the child is
then taken off the cheque.

I just don't understand how ODSP can get away with this. This is in
complete contradiction to the purpose of legislating homeschooling in
the first place, i.e. giving the parent the right to choose.

[jbkeh]

But not on the government's dime.

If they're going to pay for a "dependant child", they get to say what
defines a "dependant child."

Which they do in Directive 2.2:

http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/mcss/english/pillars/social/odsp-is-directives/ODSP_incomesupport.htm

Definition of a Dependent Child

A child is considered a dependent child if:
. he/she is under the age of 18;
. he/she resides with a parent who is an applicant/recipient or the
applicant/recipient's spouse or same-sex partner;
. the parent in the benefit unit:
- receives the Canada Child Tax Benefit on behalf of the child or
is eligible to receive it; and/or
- is responsible for the primary care and control of the child; and

the child is of school age:
- ATTENDS SCHOOL OR A PROGRAM APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR and, if over
16 years of age, is making satisfactory progress with his/her studies
or program: or
- is unable to attend school because of a physical or mental
disability or is too young to attend a publicly-funded educational
institution; or
- is unable to attend for reasons outside his or her control and
the child will be attending school at the next earliest opportunity; or

- is excused from full-time attendance under subsection 11(8) of
the Education Act (the "early school leaving provision" allows 14
and 15 year old students to be excused from school); or
- he/she has completed high school.

Your first step should be getting approval from the Director (thought
that was the purpose of the doctor's note - to certify YOU as capable
to provide home schooling).

The doctor could provide a note for the child if (and only if) the
child had a disability that precluded his/her attendance at school.

Guess you might argue that your lawful decision to home school your
child does, by definition, make him/her "unable to attend (school) for
reasons outside his or her control."

Remember the government's position - they do not want your child,
fifteen or twenty years from now, suing them for not safeguarding
his/her education when they had the financial responsibility for
him/her.

[jbkeh]

And digging a bit further, Directive 2.2 says:

Home Schooling

Home schooling occurs when a parent educates his or her child in the
home. The Board must approve home schooling for children under 16 years
of age and cannot consider a child excused legally from school unless
it is satisfied that the child is receiving satisfactory instruction.
If a dependent child is receiving Board approved home schooling, the
child is included in the benefit unit.

So chase not the doctor but your school board.