Ottawa Parents Push Back on Catholic Board's Bus Attendant Cuts
Ottawa families are sounding the alarm after the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) announced it will eliminate its school bus attendant program — a move that could have significant consequences for students with special needs come September.
The program has long provided trained attendants who ride alongside students requiring additional support during their daily commute to school. For many families, these attendants aren't a nice-to-have — they're a necessity. They help manage medical needs, behavioural supports, and safety concerns that drivers simply can't address while keeping their eyes on the road.
Who Gets Affected?
The cuts are expected to disproportionately impact students with physical disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and other conditions that require one-on-one attention during transit. For some families, the attendant program is the only reason their child can safely ride a school bus at all.
Parents who spoke out say they were blindsided by the decision and are frustrated by the lack of consultation. Many are now scrambling to figure out alternatives — whether that means driving their children themselves, arranging private transportation, or lobbying the board to reverse course before the school year begins.
The Board's Position
The OCSB has not publicly detailed what alternative supports, if any, will be put in place to fill the gap left by the program's removal. Budget pressures across Ontario school boards have been mounting in recent years, with many boards making difficult decisions around staffing and services to balance the books.
However, critics argue that cutting supports for students with special needs is a false economy — one that can lead to greater costs down the line if children lose access to school or require more intensive interventions.
Advocates Call for Reversal
Disability advocates and parent groups are urging the OCSB to reconsider. Access to education is a right, they note, and removing a program that makes that access possible for some of Ottawa's most vulnerable students raises serious equity concerns.
Some families are exploring whether the decision could run afoul of Ontario's Human Rights Code, which requires school boards to accommodate students with disabilities to the point of undue hardship.
With the fall semester still weeks away, there is time for the board to revisit the decision — but parents say the clock is ticking, and they need answers now.
What Families Can Do
If your child is affected, advocates recommend:
- Contacting your school's principal and the OCSB directly to document your concern
- Reaching out to your local trustee
- Connecting with organizations like Community Living Ottawa or ARCH Disability Law Centre for guidance
The OCSB board of trustees meets regularly throughout the summer — parents say showing up and making noise is the best way to keep pressure on.
Source: CBC Ottawa
