Getting support at school can mean navigating unfamiliar language, unclear processes, and repeated requests for the same things. These are some of the questions families and caregivers bring to our community most often.
Understanding your child’s rights helps you ask clearer questions, identify unmet needs, and decide what to do next. You do not need to know every policy or have a finished solution before asking the school to address a barrier.
Start here for the basics, or browse and search all questions for more detailed guidance.
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Does my child need a diagnosis, designation, or IEP before getting support?
An Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Ministry special education designation are not required to have human rights protection. A school should respond to known or reasonably apparent disability-related needs while questions about assessment or paperwork are being addressed. The school may need relevant information to understand the barriers and suitable accommodations. Share what you know…
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How do I get an IEP for my child?
Start by writing to your child’s teacher and principal. Describe the disability-related barriers your child is experiencing, the support they need, and why current arrangements are not enough. Ask for a meeting to discuss an Individual Education Plan (IEP), who will coordinate the process, and when you can expect the next steps. Whether an IEP…
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How often must an IEP be reviewed? Can I request changes now?
You can request changes at any time during the school year. If your child’s needs have changed, supports are not working, or new barriers have emerged, contact their teacher or IEP case manager. Explain what needs attention, how it is affecting your child, and ask for a review. The annual review is a minimum requirement.…
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How do I know which accommodations to ask for? Do we have to wait for an assessment?
You can ask for help as soon as you know something is getting in the way of your child’s education. You might know that your child misses the start of every writing activity, or that getting through the school day leaves them too exhausted to eat dinner. You can tell the school what is happening…
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What should I do if agreed accommodations are not being provided?
Write to the teacher or case manager and principal. Identify the missing support, give specific examples, and explain the effect on your child. Ask them to confirm: Request a response by a specific date that reflects the urgency. If the gap continues, take the concern to the district. See Understanding The Duty To Accommodate and…
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Who should I contact when the school is not resolving the problem?
Start with the teacher for classroom concerns, and involve the principal when support is missing, safety or attendance is affected, or the issue remains unresolved. Next, contact the district administrator responsible for inclusive education. Briefly explain the barrier, its impact, what has already been tried, and the decision or action you need. Ask who has…
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Where can I find advocacy and peer support?
You do not have to navigate every step alone. For more organisations and practical guides, visit our resources page.
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My child is being sent home or cannot access school. What should I do first?
Write to the principal. Describe what is happening, how much school your child is missing, and which supports are unavailable or ineffective. Ask for an immediate plan for safe access, who will put it in place, and when you will receive an answer. Keep a simple record of missed days, shortened days, calls for pickup,…
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Can I talk to my child’s EA about their school day?
Teachers are responsible for reporting on your child’s learning and progress. Education assistants (EAs) support students under the direction of teachers and may have valuable observations about participation, communication, personal care, and how supports are working. Arrangements for direct communication with EAs vary. Ask the teacher or principal to explain the school’s arrangements and agree…
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Where can I find the policies that apply to my child’s education?
Start with BC’s inclusive education policy and your district’s policies and administrative procedures. If a school says a decision is required by policy, ask for the document, the relevant section, and an explanation of how it applies to your child.
