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MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Cathy Cowen and her son Daniel, 20, during a lesson with an EA via video conference from their kitchen table. Pembina Trails parents are worried about the impact widespread EA layoffs, which begin on Monday, will have on students with disabilities. Children in the Life Skills program have built relationships with EAs, who work on both literacy and numeracy, as well as behaviour lessons with them. They have tight bonds with their EAs, sometimes more-so than teachers. Without in-person physio or speech pathologist support, students are already struggling to adapt during distance learning. See Maggie Macintosh story 200508 - Friday, May 08, 2020.