The Ontario Autism Coalition is voicing its opposition to the possibility of school board trustees being eliminated.

Recent reports suggest the province is looking at merging all 72 boards into four provincial bodies.

Labour groups and opposition MPPs have come out against the idea.

The Coalition says it runs the risk of silencing families and their children and worsening school exclusion rates.

A survey identified 28.4% of respondents reporting they contacted a trustee at least once during the 2024-25 school year.

The Coalition says that translates to 102,051 children and youth with a disability who were helped.

It adds that trustees play a critical role, providing families with a voice, providing accountability, and helping resolve problems when students are excluded or cannot access the accommodations they need.

“Trustees are not a symbolic layer of governance. They are a vital contact point for families, ensuring schools are held accountable to children/youth who too often fall through the cracks,” the Coalition states in a release.

The survey also reveals that at least 19,376 children and youth with disabilities missed out on school altogether last year.

The Coalition says the numbers would be much higher had it not been for the advocacy of trustees.