16 Legislation and Educational Resources (Canada)
Inclusive education
In Canada, the Ministry of Education determines policy guidance for inclusive education services at the provincial/territorial level. For example, in British Columbia, the qualification of a student with a visual impairment is based on the following criteria. Per the British Columbia Ministry of Education (2016), the student’s functional vision profile must be described by one or more of the following as outlined in a report from an optometrist, ophthalmologist, or the Visual Impairment Program at the Sunny Hill Health Centre:
- a visual acuity of 6/21 (20/70) or less in the better eye after correction;
- a visual field of 20 degrees or less;
- any progressive eye disease with a prognosis of becoming one of the above in the next few years; or
- a visual problem or related visual stamina that is not correctable and that results in the student functioning as if his or her visual acuity is limited to 6/21 (20/70) or less (p. 74).
Canadian copyright law
Production of material in an alternate format (e.g., large print and braille) is enabled by Section 32 of the Copyright Act (1958) when there is no commercially available material in the format required. This act permits the production of alternate formats of copyright material “for a person acting at the request” of a person with a perceptual disability (Copyright Act, 1958, para. 1).
References
British Columbia Ministry of Education. (2016). Special education services: A manual of policies, procedures and guidelines. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/administration/kindergarten-to-grade-12/inclusive/special_ed_policy_manual.pdf
Copyright Act, R.S.C., c. C-42, s. 32. (1958). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-42/page-10.html#h-103789
