Interactions programming supports students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD impacts how people understand what they see, hear and sense. This lifelong disability can result in difficulties in communication, social relationships, behaviour or learning. Although some students with ASD achieve at grade level, many have uneven or delayed achievement.

GOALS

• Improve communication, social interaction and behaviour while developing academic skills

BENEFITS

• Demonstrate growth in communication skills
• Demonstrate growth in building and maintaining relationships, and understanding social situations
• Demonstrate growth in managing frustration and problem-solving
• Improved ability to handle change or challenging emotions (e.g., anxiety)
• Development of life skills to support independent living and employment

PROGRAM DELIVERY

• Structured environment with regular routines
• Smaller classes for more targeted instruction
• Visual aids, concrete examples and hands-on activities
• Frequent praise and other meaningful rewards to help students adopt positive behaviours and attitudes
• Opportunities to join other classes for instruction in a student’s areas of strength

ELIGIBILITY 

To be eligible for programming, students must be:

• 5 ½ to 19 years old on September 1
• Clinically diagnosed with ASD
• Demonstrating stereotyped behaviours, and have severe impairment in social interactions and communication

ALBERTA CURRICULUM

All Edmonton Public Schools programming is based on curriculum determined by Alberta Education. Students enrolled in Interactions will receive the same high-quality education offered in all of our programs.

TRANSPORTATION

Most schools offering special education programming have some yellow busing options available. For more information about busing, please contact us here at the office 780-489-5100 or call Student Transportation at 780-429-8585.

Duggan School now offers the Pre-Kindergarten Program!

It is the goal of our Pre-Kindergarten Program to foster the necessary growth and development that will enable a child to deal competently with his or her environment and future learning experiences. As a program we recognize that this is a reciprocal process involving both home and school. Families are viewed as an integral part of the education process and are invited to be involved in all aspects of their child's educational planning.

 Pre-Kindergarten builds children's strengths and skills in a playful, language-rich environment. As much as possible, teaching occurs in the context of play situations and learning centres. We also recognize the need for developmentally appropriate learning and when necessary, individual instruction. Duggan's Pre-Kindergarten Program provides a wide range of experiences that capitalize on a child's strengths.  

Pre-Kindergarten Program Expression of Interest for 2026/2027

Pre-Kindergarten is for children with severe needs who are between the ages of 2 years and 8 months and 4 years and 8 months old by September 1 of the year they are attending, as per Alberta Education criteria.

For the 2026/27 school year, the Pre-Kindergarten Program requires that children qualify for the program before we can register them. To qualify for Pre-Kindergarten your child:

• must be born in 2022 or 2023
• must qualify based on Alberta Education criteria for Severe needs (i.e. severe speech language delay, Autism Spectrum disorder, Down Syndrome, behaviour disorder, or other medical disorders)

The Pre-Kindergarten program will run from September 2026 to June 2027(5 days per week for 2.5 hours each day). Daily attendance in the program is a requirement to meet Alberta Education criteria. Bus transportation is available for those who qualify (based on address and assigned school placement).

If you want your child to be considered for enrolment in September 2026, please click on the link below. This is a central intake list for all of the Pre-Kindergarten sites in Edmonton Public Schools, therefore you only need to enter your child’s information once.

Schools will contact families who have submitted this form sometime in February about next steps.

Click on the 2026/2027 Expression of Interest in Pre-Kindergarten Form.

 If you have any further questions, please call 780-434-0319.