Publication Date
ITI Foundation and Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc School: Transformative Donations
Three years after implementing technological tools to promote the success of young people with learning difficulties at Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc School, and in light of the success observed, the ITI Foundation is granting additional funding to this school in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, in Montreal.
With this donation, the school was able to procure new computers, Ipads, mice and headphones that will benefit the whole school, but especially students with special needs. For students in DGA (severe learning difficulty) or AMPLI (specialized language class) classes, specialized software and digitized notebooks are essential to enable them to overcome their learning difficulties and experience success.
At Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc School, the computer and specialized software follow the student throughout his or her primary education. Without a donation like the one from the ITI Foundation, specialized classes in public schools usually have 1 or 2 computers per class.
We are victims of our own success: parents are willing when they learn that their child with special needs will be enrolled in one of our seven special education classes, because they know that we are well equipped. Since we are in a disadvantaged area, many of our young people do not have access to this equipment at home. It really has the potential to completely change their academic trajectory.
The Impact of Digital Tools Is Tangible
Every year since the arrival of digital devices, young people have managed to join regular classes thanks to digital tools that support them in the face of their dyslexia, dysorthography or language difficulties.
Number of students with special needs who have successfully integrated into a regular classroom
Even in regular classes, the students keep their computer equipment, because it is really the key to their success. This is proof that by providing students with the right tools, they can learn and progress at a faster pace.
Benefits That Go On in High School and Beyond
Since 2022, students from Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc have progressed to high school. Even among those who remain in specialized classes, school stakeholders observe benefits.
We are told that students with special needs who arrive from our school standout for their autonomy in the use of digital tools. This is not surprising, as they worked with these tools every day, not a few times a week. In elementary school, we have more time to accompany students with computers and softwares. Their digital fluency greatly facilitates their integration into high school, because they are more skilled and they have more confidence in their ability to succeed, despite the difficulties. After that, it’s obvious that it’s also a bulwark against dropping out of school.
This digital autonomy and confidence are important, because these students are highly at risk of dropping out during their school path. According to the Observatoire québécois des inégalités, the high school graduation and qualification rate after seven years remains significantly lower among students with disabilities, maladjustment or learning difficulties. Among the causes of this dropout: the chronic lack of resources to support them.
The teachers of the AMPLI and DGA classes, the school management and a president of the ITI Foundation.
Front row: Djedjiga Ait Alioua, Lynda Mohammedi, Marie-Pier Mallette and Marie-Pier Laflamme from the school, followed by Amal Benzzahhaf from the ITI Foundation. Back row: Patrice Galarneau, Stéphanie Tremblay, Sophie Caron-Guévin, Marie-Ève Massé-Denis (vice-principal) and Christine Forgues (principal) of Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc School
