Parents and guardians need more information about the BC education system. Here is a listing of some resources families and educators may find helpful. The list is not exhaustive and will be added to and updated, so check back often! If you would like a resource added or find a broken link, please comment on this page or send it to tracy@bcedaccess.com.
If you are a parent or guardian in British Columbia of a child or youth with disabilities or complex needs looking for support, knowledge and information about inclusive education in our Province, please go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/BCEdAccess and request to join our online private support and advocacy group. To learn more about what we do, please visit this post.
BCEdAccess Resources
NEW! BCEdAccess and Family Support Institute of BC – Education and Other Toolkits
BCEdAccess Reports and Submissions:
Exclusion Tracker Reports (2018-2023)
2022 Presentation to Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services
2021 Budget Proposal to the Select Standing Committee On Finance and Government Services
Considering Leaving The System
Resources provided by Community Partners
Inclusion BC – Parent Handbook on Inclusive Education
Family Support Institute of BC – Resources
Policies, Procedures and the Law
COVID-19 Operational Guidelines for School Districts and Independent School Authorities
Ministry of Education: Special Education Policies, Procedures and Guidelines
BC Ministerial Orders, Ministry of Education
BC Interministerial Protocols for the Provision of Support Services to Schools
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities
School Districts
Each School District in the Province will have their own set of Policies and Administrative Procedures. Check your local district website, or ask your school or District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) for more information. Here is an example:
Inclusive Education 44 Learning Services Handbook (North Vancouver School District)
Individualized Education Plans
Individualized Education Planning for Students with Special Needs (British Columbia School Superintendents Association [BCSSA])
Advocacy and Problem Solving
Note: Resources listed in this section are not limited to British Columbia. We have included additional out of province resources because we have found them to contain valuable information that can be generalized to other locations.
Know Your Rights – Guardian Edition (Learning Disabilities Association of BC, South Vancouver Island Chapter)
Know Your Rights – Student Edition (Learning Disabilities Association of BC, South Vancouver Island Chapter)
Supporting Meaningful Consultation with Parents (British Columbia Council of Administrators of Special Education [BC CASE])
Speaking Up! A Parent’s Guide to Advocating For Students in Public Schools (BCCPAC, 2008)
Roles and Responsibilities of Teachers and Teacher Assistants/Education Assistants (BCTF and CUPE, 2009)
Shared Solutions: A Guide to Preventing and Resolving Conflicts Regarding Programs and Services for Students with Special Education Needs (Ontario Ministry of Education)
Parent Engagement (Ontario Teachers Federation)
Special Education (BC Teachers Federation)
Paper Trails, Letter Writing and Documentation (Wrights Law [United States])
Beyond Section 11 Appeals
The Office of the Ombudsperson: B.C.’s Independent Voice For Fairness
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
Teacher Regulation Branch
Provincial Organizations Who Provide Information and/or Assist Families and/or Educators
British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS)
Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN)
The F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids’ Mental Health
Learning Disabilities Association of BC
Autism Community Training (ACT)
Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (C.H.A.D.D.) Vancouver
Other Important Reports and Publications
Fair Schools Report (Ombudsman, Province of British Columbia, 1995)
Focus on Suspension: A Resource for Schools (BC Ministry of Education, 1999)
Stop Hurting Kids: Restraint and Seclusion in BC Schools – Survey Results and Recommendations (Inclusion BC, Family Support Institute,2013)
A Review of Special Education in British Columbia (Ministry of Education, 1999)
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