Parents, students and faculty members are pleading with the Mount Royal University board of governors to rethink its decision to suspend a two year disabilities studies diploma program.
On Friday, a conference was held to shed light on the number of people this potential suspension will affect.
Currently, all first year enrolments in the program are suspended but second year students will be allowed to complete their studies.
There is a tremendous demand for certified individuals to work with disabled people.
35 students graduate from MRU's program every year and the graduate employment rate is 100 per cent.
Parents of disabled children are very concerned for what the future holds.
“I don't think they're thinking ahead, they're not thinking of the future,” says Marg Roseneder, a concerned parent. “It's going to have a trickle down effect to every program that's out there."
"It’s totally unfair. It's basically telling people with disabilities ‘you don't count, you're not important’."
School officials say if they do reinstate the disabilities studies diploma program, it would be most likely return as a degree program.
The final decision on the suspension of the program will be made at the end of May.
With files from Kathy Le
