Safe at School Ontario has released a new public Action Guide focused on strengthening school safety protections for medically fragile children living with epilepsy as Ontario reviews proposed updates to PPM 161.
PPM 161 is the Ontario policy that guides how schools support students with prevalent medical conditions, including epilepsy, asthma, diabetes, and anaphylaxis. The proposed updates are currently open for public consultation.
Safe at School Ontario previously participated in the first round of consultations and submissions related to proposed PPM 161 changes and continues to advocate for stronger, clearer, and more consistent protections for medically fragile students across Ontario schools.
The new Action Guide focuses specifically on school safety concerns and proposed PPM 161 updates affecting students living with epilepsy, including concerns related to SUDEP risk, direct line-of-sight supervision, seizure recognition, safety planning, staff training, and consistent protections across Ontario schools.
The guide was developed through the lived experiences of families navigating complex epilepsy care within Ontario schools and was created to help families, educators, healthcare professionals, and community members better understand the proposed policy changes and participate in the consultation process.
“My son Charlie is six years old and lives with drug-resistant epilepsy,” said Quinte-area Safe at School Ontario Advocate Amy McQuaid.
“His seizures are frequent, unpredictable, and sometimes subtle, and he cannot advocate for himself. Children like Charlie rely on consistent supervision, clear safety planning, direct line-of-sight support, and informed school staff to remain safe at school.”
The release of the guide also comes amid growing conversations around student safety following the death of Landyn Ferris, a child who died after being left alone in a school sensory room.
“The death of Landyn Ferris is a devastating reminder that gaps in supervision and unclear policies can have serious and irreversible consequences,” officials with the organization stated.
“No family should have to experience a preventable loss because protections were inconsistent, unclear, or unenforceable.”
The organization is encouraging anyone interested in student safety, disability advocacy, inclusive education, or epilepsy awareness to review the proposed updates and participate in the public consultation before final decisions are made.
