The Ontario government says it is engaging in discussions with education partners to establish stronger safeguards for the use of “seclusion” or “isolation” rooms in schools, following growing calls from disability advocates for province-wide standards.
The conversations come more than a year after the death of 16-year-old Landyn Ferris, a Trenton High School student who was found unresponsive in a sensory room in May 2024. Ferris, who lived with Dravet syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy, required constant supervision due to his medical condition.
Advocates, including the Ontario Autism Coalition (OAC) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Alliance, have criticized the government for not implementing policies or collecting data on the use of such rooms.
“It’s been a year-and-a-half since Landyn’s passing, and we still don’t have answers or accountability,” said Kate Dudley-Logue, vice-president of the Ontario Autism Coalition. “There are no policies to ensure that a student is not left alone in unsafe conditions — that’s truly egregious.”
A freedom-of-information (FOI) request obtained by The Trillium revealed that the Ministry of Education does not currently collect data from school boards about sensory or seclusion rooms, nor does the Education Act define or regulate their use. Ministry officials stated that local boards are responsible for developing their own policies and procedures based on student needs.
Disability rights advocate David Lepofsky, chair of the AODA Alliance, called the absence of provincial oversight “deeply troubling.”
“A ministry decision not to track or regulate isolation rooms is especially alarming after a fatality,” Lepofsky said. “The lack of any specific or consistent standards is unacceptable.”
Lepofsky noted that recommendations from a K–12 Education Standards Development Committee — including clear guidelines on when and how isolation or sensory rooms can be used — have been sitting with the province for more than three years without implementation.
In response, Education Minister Paul Calandra’s office confirmed ongoing consultations.
“To ensure the safety and success of every student in school, we are holding conversations with our partners to better safeguard the use of seclusion rooms across the province,” said Emma Testani, spokesperson for the Minister.
Advocates and opposition leaders have urged the Ford government to act swiftly. NDP Education Critic Chandra Pasma described the government’s previous handling of the issue as “cynical,” saying it appeared more focused on messaging than meaningful action.
“Rather than communication points, the government should have been focused on preventing this from ever happening again,” Pasma said.
The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, which oversaw the school where Ferris died, said it has since reviewed medical care policies for students with complex needs, implemented additional staff training, and created new protocols to flag high-risk medical conditions in student records.
While the board emphasized that Ferris’ death had a “profound and lasting effect” on the community, it declined to share details of its internal investigation, citing privacy concerns.
As discussions continue, advocates are pressing for province-wide regulations to prevent further tragedies.
“These rooms may be necessary in some cases, but proper policies must govern how and when they’re used,” said Dudley-Logue. “Every child deserves to be safe at school.”