SET-BC Services to Independent Schools
SET-BC Mandate
SET-BC is a Ministry of Education Provincial Resource Program established to assist school districts and funded independent schools in educating students whose access to the curriculum is restricted primarily due to the following disabilities:
- physical disabilities or chronic health impairments
- visual impairments
- dependent handicaps
- deafblindness
- autism spectrum disorders
- moderate to profound intellectual disabilities
Independent School eligibility requirements for receiving SET-BC service
The student must be claimed for Level I or Level II funding and be described by one or more of the following disability groups:
- physical handicap
- visual impairment
- dependent or multiple handicap
- autism
In addition, the student’s access to the curriculum is restricted by his/her disability.
Independent School process for accessing SET-BC services
SET-BC provides service to Independent Schools up to three times during the school year called Service Cycles.
- A teacher may refer a student to the school based team for SET-BC service consideration up to three times or service cycles during the school year. The occupational therapist, physiotherapist, teacher of the visually impaired, speech-language pathologist and/or district resource teacher should be consulted as required prior to referral.
- The school selects a school based contact person.
- The school team reviews and completes the Independent Schools Screening Checklist. (http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/independentschools/is_forms/welcome.htm#speced_grant)
- The school contact submits the Screening Checklist to the Office of the Inspector of Independent Schools (OIIS) by the designated date.
- The Independent Schools Screening Committee review the Screening Checklists and select students for SET-BC service.
- If the student is chosen by the Independent Schools Screening Committee to receive SET-BC services, the school-based team and parent will be asked to complete a Request for Service form. SET-BC services are provided three times during the school year called Service Cycles. The Request for Service form will be due in advance of one of those Service Cycles.
- If a student is identified as a priority for receiving SET-BC services, a SET-BC regional consultant will contact the school team to complete the SET-BC service process.
Technology Loans to Distance Learning Schools
All SET-BC services are provided and delivered to BC school districts and Independent School Authorities, and their staff members. As a result, only students whose educational programming is provided by BC school district distributed learning schools and/or funded independent distributed learning schools are eligible to receive SET-BC services and technology loans.
- The DL school requests SET-BC service for the student following the established school district or Independent School Authority screening procedures.
- The SET-BC case contact is the consultant normally attached to schools in the municipality where the DL school office is located. If the DL student is selected by the Independent Schools Screening Committee to receive SET-BC services, the SET-BC consultant will meet with the DL school team responsible for the student’s programming to complete a Collaborative Action Plan (CAP).
- Training is provided to the DL school staff by the SET-BC consultant in the municipality where the school office is located. The school is responsible if any training is required in the student’s home as required.
- SET-BC will ship technology to the DL school address. The DL school is responsible for shipping to and from the student’s home as required.
- The SET-BC Support Centre will ship technology to and from the DL school office only. The DL school is responsible for shipping repairs to and from the student’s home.
SET-BC contacts for Independent Schools
British Columbia Independent Schools have two “District Partners” acting as a liaison between the Office of the Inspector of Independent Schools (OIIS), Group 1 and Group 2 Independent Schools and SET-BC. The District Partners are familiar with the services provided by SET-BC and the procedures for requesting technology for students. To contact the SET-BC District Partners please call the Independent Schools office at (250) 387-3711 for further information. SET-BC regional consultants can also answer questions or provide information on SET-BC services to Independent Schools.
SET-BC technology loans
SET-BC loans technology solutions to Independent Schools for use with identified students. All SET-BC equipment can be identified by a SET-BC bar code sticker with a 5 or 6-digit id number. At the time of the original request, the members of the student's school team completed a CAP (Collaborative Action Plan) to request the system and plan for its implementation. A copy of the original CAP is kept in the student's official records with his or her IEP. A copy can also be obtained from the SET-BC consultant; or from the SET-BC District Partner.
Independent School partnership on hardware
SET-BC supplies the basic computer or voice output communication aid (VOCA). It is the Independent School’s responsibility to arrange for printer access, networking capabilities and/or internet access. These needs should be discussed as part of the CAP to ensure that the basic technology provided by SET-BC meets the requirements of the student's need. Where school teams identify additional hardware needs, the school is responsible for the cost, support and maintenance of these technologies. When students change classrooms or schools, a re-CAP may be required to reassign responsibilities and review the student’s program needs.
Independent School partnership on software
SET-BC supplies the basic hardware with the system software. SET-BC also provides specialized access software such as screen enlargement, Braille translation, or word-prediction. Normally the access software is requested as part of the original CAP. The Independent School Authority is responsible for supplying any regular software such as virus protection, word-processor, math programs, educational games, etc. The SET-BC consultant may recommend additional software that would be suitable for the student. As SET-BC loaned technology becomes part of the Independent School Authority overall technology plan, it is subject to the Authority's appropriate use policies.
Illegal software may not be put on SET-BC computers - the school must ensure only licensed software is installed on any SET-BC equipment. Original disks and manuals must be available for any software loaded on SET-BC computers. If original disks do not exist, the program is illegal software and must be removed from the system.
Technology support and maintenance
Please call your SET-BC consultant if you need assistance with training related issues on the SET-BC software or hardware. If there is a maintenance or repair issue with SET-BC technology, please call the SET-BC Support Desk at 1-866-738-3375 (Lower Mainland 604-269-2222), or email support@setbc.org. Many problems can be dealt with over the phone or by email, and the SET-BC technical support team can provide teams with troubleshooting suggestions.
Support Tips
- Before calling, please check all relevant help files and, if possible, software updates and hardware drivers.
- When you call, have the name of the student, equipment SET-ID # and details of the problem available.
- Whenever possible, have the equipment at hand and software CDs available.
- Technology returned to the SET-BC Provincial Centre in Vancouver for repair or replacement typically requires 15 days for repair/replacement and return shipping.
Training
SET-BC offers a wide range of training activities on the educational use of assistive technologies. When SET-BC provides a student equipment loan, the student's school team receives training on the implementation of the technology in the classroom. This type of training is usually arranged at CAP meetings, or during the follow-up implementation support.
Public school district staff, Independent School Authority staff or school team members can also attend SET-BC workshops on a wide range of topics, such as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) issues, alternate access, or vision technologies. Please see calendar for workshop details.
The Learning Centre on the SET-BC website contains on-line presentations and tutorials, downloadable lesson plans, product guides and software demonstrations.
SET-BC Policy on the use of technology in the home and community settings
The technology is on loan to the Independent School and is not insured by SET-BC. Upon delivery of the system, the school administrator signs an equipment loan form accepting responsibility for the system, and it is up to the school district to make the decision to allow the system to go home. If this is the case, the parent(s) must also sign the loan form. Parents may investigate the purchase of a rider for their home insurance to cover the system, but are not required to do so. If the technology is lost or stolen, the home insurance ensures that it is replaced with current technology. If no insurance is in place, the technology will be replaced with comparable technology (a two year old system will be replaced with another two year old system). It is important to have a technology security plan in place at school and at home, especially for laptop systems. The District Partner or SET-BC consultant can provide the school team with a security checklist to assist in the development of a security plan. It is understood that student use of SET-BC technology in the home setting is based on the school's acceptable use policy and is to support the student’s educational program.
Student transitions to new settings
The school team is responsible for informing SET-BC of anticipated transitions. New school teams are encouraged to notify the District Partner and the SET-BC consultant to review technology needs and related training issues. The new school team may wish to have a CAP meeting to assign specific responsibilities to team members. The school team taking responsibility for the original loan should do an inventory of equipment before transferring it to the new school. The new school team should in turn review the technologies being received to ensure that all components of the student's system have arrived in proper working order. If the student is leaving the school district, the technologies on loan must be returned to the SET-BC regional office. The SET-BC consultant will ensure that the student's technology and files are transferred to the student's new independent school or school district.
Graduating students
Each year in March, SET-BC sends a letter to school teams supporting students who may be graduating or completing their secondary school education. The letter asks each team to confirm that the student is graduating or leaving school and outlines the options available to the student. The school is required to return the equipment to SET-BC at the conclusion of the school year. If the student is continuing to a post-secondary institution, a meeting with a post secondary counselor at the chosen post secondary institution may be needed to review the student's technology needs. Students using communication devices may apply to Communication Assistance for Young Adults for further support.