Parents protest closure of Algonquin College’s special needs adult education program

Parents are calling on Algonquin College to stop plans to close its special needs adult education program in 2026. CTV's Shaun Vardon reports.

Joanne Mayne and her family joined dozens of people outside Algonquin College Thursday evening, protesting the closure of the college’s Academic Assistance for Adults with Developmental Disabilities program (AAADD).

It offers a unique chance for adults with developmental disabilities to attend college, where they can gain experience and skills that may lead to a job and greater independence.

The program runs 40 weeks per year, according to its website. Students can attend day or night courses part-time for a maximum of four years. Courses are facilitated by a coordinator and adult development counsellors.

“My son is 20 years old and had planned on going to Algonquin next year and with the cancellation of the program, he does not have any post-secondary options available to him,” Mayne said.

“I’m blown away that it’s a shortfall of $80,000 a year and that’s the reason why the program is getting cut. I don’t know very much about political budgets, but I think the province of Ontario can afford $80,000 a year so my son has post-secondary options.”

Algonquin College announced in May the AAADD program will be phased out as the school continues to face financial challenges. The college says the program will conclude in April 2026 to allow students currently enrolled to finish their studies.

Seventy-three students are currently enrolled in the program, but no new students have been accepted in three years. AAADD students are given a certificate of completion and not a formal credential approved by the Ministry of Education when they finish their studies.

Eric Burgin, who has a daughter hoping to attend Algonquin through the AAADD program, was one of the protest organizers. He says they have reached out to Algonquin College to discuss maintaining the program but have not had a response from the college.

With the help of their local MPP, they have been collecting signatures on a petition demanding the program be reinstated. So far, thousands have signed up and the petition will be presented at Queens Park.

“It’s a vital program for the community. These kids going through this program, they get out into the community afterwards with jobs and It’s going to cost less in the long run to the social system because they will not require special support if they are able to provide for themselves,” Burgin said.

“This program does not cause that much of a shortfall to the college’s budget.”

The college already announced wider cuts earlier this year, including the suspension of 41 active and dormant programs, the closure of the Perth Campus and the offering of voluntary exit packages to staff, citing a drop in international student enrollment and a tuition freeze.

Staff say student enrolment is projected to drop 11 per cent in 2025-26.

Algonquin College reported in January that it was projecting a $32 million loss in revenue for 2024-25, a $60 million shortfall in 2025-26 and a $93 million deficit for 2026-27.

The board of governors approved the $479 million 2025-26 school year budget in April, using $41 million in reserves to cover the multi-million-dollar budget deficit and to support projects and initiatives at the college for the next school year.

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