Latest news with #Dostaler
CBC
28-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
'He certainly is not forgotten': Board wants good to come out of school tragedy
The Ontario school board that launched a review after the death of one its students last year says it wants some good to come out of the process, though some details, including the boy's cause of death, remain unclear all these months later. "There are still some gaps for us to have a full picture of what occurred that day," the board's top official says. Landyn Ferris, a Grade 10 student at Trenton High School in central Ontario, died in May 2024 — soon after his 16th birthday, and under circumstances that remain unclear. Ferris's family has alleged he was left alone in a private room at his school, despite staff knowing he had a condition that meant he needed careful observation. Amid the family's threat of a lawsuit — which remains unrealized — the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDSB) said little about the death. But nearly 11 months later, the board is giving its most extended comments so far as it updates its trustees on an ongoing review of school protocols begun after Ferris's death — though the briefing does not delve into the death itself. "We looked inward and dealt with the information that we had to both honour Landyn but also honour our staff who are looking for ways to make a difference," Katherine MacIver, the board's director of education, told CBC in an interview. "To have something positive come out of something incredibly tragic." Ensuring 'optimal' staff resources On Monday, MacIver and another board official, Ken Dostaler, addressed the board's publicly elected trustees about the review, which focused on internal processes related to students with special education and medical needs. Ferris was in Trenton High's life skills program for students with complex needs. According to Josh Nisker, the lawyer representing Ferris's family, Ferris had Dravet syndrome, a rare type of genetic epilepsy that can cause seizures. Before Ferris died, his mother had warned the school that he couldn't be left alone, Nisker said — especially while sleeping, as that was a trigger for his seizures. The family alleged Ferris was left by himself in a sensory room — a space to help calm or engage students in learning — only to be found cold and unresponsive some time later when staff went to put him on a school bus. "The goal of the review was to ensure that staff have access to optimal resources, training and procedures," Dostaler wrote in a summary report to trustees ahead of Monday's board meeting. Some of the planned improvements outlined in Dostaler's update touch on issues that were relevant to Ferris's death, some not, MacIver told CBC. "I would say the bulk of them are just review of things we do regularly, but we're tightening those processes up and making sure there's tight onboarding for new staff," Dostaler told trustees on Monday. Among other things, the list of goals in the update includes: Support and training for supply education assistants. More mandatory training for all staff, whether permanent or temporary, who are responsible for the safety and well-being of students with complex needs. Ensuring emergency supply candidates are prepared enough for their roles and that schools give them time to review individual education plans and "safety, behaviour and emergency medical plans of care." Making sure all staff working directly with students who have medical needs are given information regarding the student's condition. The update also mentions the responsibility of parents to give schools up-to-date information on their child's serious medical situation "as a condition of attending a school," as well as information on medications and possible side effects. The board will also review its sensory rooms and how they are used. 'He was very loved' Asked what happened that day, MacIver first mentioned how the loss had a major impact on staff. "What I could say is this is probably the worst thing ever in the lives of this family and friends and of this staff in the school. The loss of Landyn is acutely felt throughout the system, [though] nowhere near what the family is going through..." MacIver said. "He was very loved ... and he certainly is not forgotten." MacIver went on to say the board focused in its review on areas it could address based on the information it had. That does not include Ferris's cause of death. "We don't have that information," she said. A spokesperson for the Office of the Chief Coroner said families get copies of coroner's reports, but not school boards. MacIver said she could not discuss the day Ferris was found due to student and family confidentiality. Asked whether any school staff were disciplined or dismissed as a result of what happened, she said, "We had no indication that that was necessary based on our investigation or the investigation of police." Nisker declined to comment for this story but confirmed Ferris's family has still "not yet" filed any legal action. He did not respond when asked if the family knows Ferris's cause of death. Advocate calls for coroner's inquest Photos show Ferris had a bright smile and wore superhero-themed T-shirts. He'd attended Trenton High School since Grade 6, Nisker previously told CBC. "He kept me soft-hearted even when I was mad at the world," his mother, Brenda Davis, said in a statement to CBC in the early days of her grief. Ferris's death made provincial headlines and sparked debate in the Ontario legislature. The education minister at the time, Stephen Lecce, asked critics to allow for "an independent, fulsome investigation," pointing to parallel inquiries by the coroner's office and the OPP. The police force did not stay involved for long because there was no indication of foul play. For David Lepofsky, the chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance, Ferris's death still "cries out for a public accountability" like a coroner's inquest. (The coroner's service says families in these circumstances can request an inquest, but they are not mandatory.) "There's no indication what, if any, protocols they had and what, if anything, went wrong," Lepofsky said of the board's update. The board took some questions from trustees on Monday, though one, Ernie Parsons, said it might not be wise to talk about Ferris's death, citing the "strong possibility" of a lawsuit. "Identifying improvements is also interpreted as identifying shortfalls in the past," he said. MacIver said she didn't see a problem with "identifying the fact that we can all improve in what we do" on a continual basis and concluded her remarks to trustees with a call to action. "I would ask you to hold us accountable. Ask us about some of these goals that the team has set ... Because I think we should be reporting back about how we are getting better day-to-day, month to month, year to year." Board chair Kari Kramp told CBC via email that trustees have "full confidence" in MacIver and staff "as they take thoughtful and informed steps" and that trustees take their own responsibility to oversee system improvements "seriously."
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Think hearing aids are embarrassing? Canadians are dispelling the stigma: 'Wouldn't it be sad to miss out on so much in your life?'
When Sharon Osborne and her husband, Don, retired in 2011 they decided that in addition to getting regular dental checkups and eye exams, they would have their hearing tested every year. 'I thought it was a good idea,' Osborne told Yahoo Canada. 'Our hearing is important.' By the time Osborne was in her 70s, she noticed she was missing the beginning of words. When her grandchildren were speaking to her, for example, she was unclear whether they were saying 'time' or 'dime' or 'sign' or 'lime.' 'Sometimes I have to get them to actually spell the word out for me,' said Osborne, who resides in Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ont. She also had trouble hearing her husband, who she has been with since they were teenagers. 'I thought he wasn't talking loud enough,' she said. Sometimes, Don would have to repeat himself three times, but Osborne still couldn't hear what he said. Eventually, Osborne's regular hearing test showed a gradual decline over a period of years. It was time to get hearing aids, which she said has made a tremendous difference. 'Some people kind of fight it. They might think it's embarrassing to have hearing aids,' Osborne said. 'But wouldn't it be sad to miss out on so much in your life?' In her retirement community, she has made a point to advocate for hearing aids among her peers. Recently, her husband got a pair of hearing aids, too. 'We've totally noticed the difference,' Osborne said. 'The communication is there again.' While Osborne was proactive with annual hearing check ups and got hearing aids as soon as it was deemed necessary, her situation is not that common. According to Statistics Canada, 78 per cent of Canadians over the age of 60 have hearing loss, and 38 per cent of all Canadian adults have hearing loss of some kind. However, a 2018 study from the University of Alberta found about 80 per cent of Canadians who know they need hearing aids are not using them. Research has also shown people with hearing loss are more likely to experience mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety, compared to those without hearing loss. March is Hearing Awareness Month. In an effort to better understand the link between hearing loss, mental health, and cognitive decline, Yahoo Canada spoke to Michèle Dostaler, an audiologist and audiology team leader for Signia at WS Audiology Canada. Below, Dostaler offers tips about how people can stay on top of their hearing health. Hearing loss can happen in a few ways, but Dostaler said the most prevalent cause is age-related hearing loss. 'Much like how people start to need reader glasses as they age, at a certain point in our lives, we all start to lose our hearing,' she said. Common signs of hearing loss include a need for repetition or a need for more volume on the TV. Those with hearing loss may also have difficulty following conversations in noisy or low-light environments. 'A lot of us lip read without really being aware of it,' Dostaler said. 'In low light, it's harder for people to hear." Hearing loss is linked to mental health declines. In fact, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, about 18 per cent of adults with moderate or worse hearing loss have depression, which is higher than the 8 per cent of adults with depression in general. Dostaler sees this in real life: 'We see people start to isolate or withdraw from activities that we used to enjoy that would involve listening tasks, like meeting up with friends for coffee or family gatherings,' she said. 'There may be a hesitancy to ask for repetition, or feel like you're missing out on the joke, or that you're misinterpreting the context of conversations.' Dostaler said people become reluctant to go out and socialize because the cognitive load to listen carefully causes fatigue. It can cause people with hearing loss to feel isolated, which can lead to mental health issues like depression. Many Canadians resist getting their hearing checked due to the stigma associated with hearing loss. 'People are worried about looking like they're aging, but it's more than that,' Dostaler said. 'When we are struggling to hear, it makes us look like we're less competent.' Younger people face this struggle, too: 'Younger people are afraid that they will look like they don't have as much authority in the workplace if they are perceived as having a disability.' Hearing protection, like using foam plugs at loud concerts, is a good start, but Dostaler said it's important to insert earplugs properly and let it fully expand in our ear. Another tip is to choose environments that are not too noisy in the first place. 'It's exhausting for the brain to have to work so hard to try to decipher a message when there's a lot of competing information,' she said. And, if you have been exposed to a noisy environment, like on an airplane or a busy restaurant, Dostaler recommends seeking adequate rest afterwards. A hearing test is the first step to take control of your hearing health. While the World Health Organization recommends people start getting their hearing screened at age 50, other experts say you can start as young as 30 to get a baseline reference on your file. This can later be used to compare hearing decline over time, or detect early signs of hearing loss. Those who suspect signs of hearing loss could first try out an online hearing test, which Dostaler says can help give you a better understanding of your hearing health. However, seeing a professional audiologist at a hearing clinic will provide a more comprehensive picture of hearing health. Finally, if hearing aids are recommended, don't hesitate to give them a try. 'The longer we wait to try hearing aids, the harder it is for the brain to adapt to the sound,' Dostaler said. 'As we start disengaging from the world, sadly... we become more resistant to picking up new information later on.' Using hearing aids is good for long-term health outcomes, too. Compared to those without hearing loss, nearly double the amount of people with mild hearing loss are at risk to develop dementia. That risk is tripled for those with moderate hearing loss, says Dostaler. 'By wearing hearing aids, we are able to lessen the cognitive load… and keep those cognitive facilities intact,' she said. Hearing aid technology has come a long way in the last couple of decades. Not only are systems designed to restore hearing to as natural as possible, their design has evolved to look more sleek and discreet.
