I was one of the parents hoping to ask a question during a conference call with Alberta Minister of Education Thomas Lukaszuk last week.

I wanted to ask how kids with learning disabilities would be helped.

My turn didn’t come. But I was gratified to hear him say that Mercedes drivers are pipe fitters and plumbers.

Like many families, we have a child who struggles.

The private assessment? $1,400.

The school said it was the only way to get him coded for an “IPP” and get help through funding.

But Alberta is changing the system to “Inclusive Learning.”

“Consultation with Albertans told the committee that every student has unique needs, so their work shouldn’t just focus on one group,” writes Alberta Ed.

Yes, but not every kid comes home from school ashen with fatigue, crying in front of the homework they can’t comprehend, repeating but just not getting it.

Alberta Ed’s video shows a utopia of happiness for a little person, gay student, aboriginal student, and Minister Lukaszuk speaks of compassionate citizens, not achieving a finite goal.

Yes, but measuring grade-level standards matter.

Inclusive Education is being piloted now across Alberta. Getting it right matters.

At Calgary’s seven post-secondaries, there are 3,200 students who are legally entitled to accommodations (such as more time on exams, note-taking help) and the majority of these students have learning disabilities or attention-deficit issues.

Johanne Toddle, who heads U of C’s disability services, sees the rising numbers of LD as possibly a positive thing. This means more kids are receiving the support they need to get to post-secondary.

My colleague at MRU, Patricia Pardo, agrees that the largest category of accommodated students have learning disabilities and/or ADD. “I think there might be greater awareness and growing acceptance of learning needs,” she says. (Those with sight and hearing impairments are stubbornly underrepresented.)  

At the same time, mental-health issues are on the rise.

Ken Steele of the consulting group Academica says the kids were always told they were so good. Got A’s. Then, colleges and universities graded harder. Some students were unprepared, felt parental pressure and became depressed.

So Inclusive Learning needs compassion and clear goals – and some measure of achievement.

“In this economy, there’s going to be a skills shortage, and we need all hands on deck,” says Pardo.

I agree fully.

Maybe there’s hope for a plumber Mercedes driver in my family yet.