Fast-track your career
This program was designed specifically for those who have completed university or college programs. It is also open to those already working in the school system as Educational Assistants who wish to further their understanding of exceptionalities in Ontario classrooms and obtain an Ontario College Diploma.

Outstanding career preparation
This program will equip you with competencies to support students with disabilities and/or Individual Education Plans while maintaining a safe and professional environment that promotes students' well-being.

Things you'll do and learn
Support students with academic, behavioural, and personal care needs in educational settings from kindergarten through high school
Use Universal Design for Learning principles
Foster social inclusion
Work as part of the special education team
Accurately report information related to student learning
Field placements
In Semesters 1 and 2, you'll be placed in a school where you'll support students with special needs in the classroom. Sheridan arranges the field placement experience for you. During your placement experience, you'll encounter students with a range of exceptionalities including physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, behavioural disorders, visual or hearing impairments and autism.

In this program, you'll also:
Use assistive technology and other educational resources to implement individualized educational goals.
Report information related to the learning environment.
Maintain a safe and professional environment that promotes the well being of the student with special needs.
Support inclusion of the student to aid his or her social development and sense of belonging.
You’ll learn from professors with specialized graduate degrees and who are highly experienced in the field of special education. Your Educational Support classroom activities will include:

Group seminars and cooperative learning.
Reflective practice linked to field placement experiences.
Lectures combined with activity-based learning that incorporates the laptop.
Mobile classroom
The Educational Support – Intensive program uses laptop computers for in-class work and home assignments. All course materials are web-supported, with materials available to you 24/7 through your laptop and the Internet. Your learning opportunities will be greatly enhanced by having increased access to the Internet, learning resources and your classmates.

Flexible learning
The Educational Support – Intensive program offers course-based registration, which allows you to create your own timetable (based on course availability) by selecting the days/times that work best for you. You can choose to take a full-time course load or study part-time during the day or evening.

Please note that the courses offered in the part-time option are identical to those in the full-time option, and the graduation requirements are the same. However, it will take you longer to complete the diploma on a part-time basis and there may be financial implications to consider. If you are unsure of the financial or academic consequences of attending part-time, you should contact the Program Academic Adviser, the Office of the Registrar or the Student Advisement Centre for more information.

When you complete your Educational Support diploma program, you'll be ready to seek employment in a public or private school as an Educational Assistant* supporting students with diverse learning needs, or in a social-or health-based program with a special education component.

*Please note some school boards use the term Teaching Assistant or Educational Resource Worker.