If you are a parent or guardian in British Columbia looking for support, knowledge and information regarding special education in our Province, please email bcedaccess@gmail.com and request an invitation to our online support group. To learn more about why BCEdAccess exists, please visit this post: Why This Page
One thing that has become very clear is that parents are needing more information about the public 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, so check back often! If you would like a resource added, please comment on this page, or send it to bcedaccess@gmail.com
Policies and Procedures
Ministry of Education: Special Education Policies, Procedures and Guidelines
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.
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
Provincial Organizations Who Assist Families and 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
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)
Examining the Program Model, Organizational Structure, and Stakeholder Perceptions of the Special Education Programs and Services (With Recommendations) of School District No. 33 (Chilliwack) (Dr. David E. Carter, 2012)
EA Standards of Practice white paper
BCEdAccess 