:: School Advocacy ::

Meeting the needs of students with disabilities and behaviour problems is one of the most difficult challenges facing the public education system in Ontario.

The laws governing public education in Ontario guarantee the right of your child to an appropriate education even if your child has special education needs. However, getting the appropriate services for children with special education needs can be a challenge.

Parents that are active in advocating on behalf of their children improve the chances of getting the education services and programs that their children need and deserve. As a parent or guardian, you have a responsibility to work with your child’s school and the classroom teacher to make sure that your child gets the support and resources that he or she needs to succeed at school. This is only possible if:

you actively participate in the decisions made about your child’s education; and

you work closely with school staff to plan, and to provide a home and school environment that will allow your child to make the most of his or her educational experience.

"What information will I find in the Special Education section of this website?"

This section of the website begins with a summary of issues of concern to parents of students with special education needs (see Issues of Concern for Students with Special Education Needs). Issues of concern to parents of children with special education needs can arise in the following areas:

Identification
The identification of your child as “exceptional” and the category of exceptionality

Special Education Services
The special education services that will or will not be provided to your child

Individual Education Plans (The IEP)
The development and implementation of your child’s Individual Education Plan

Understanding Your Child’s Abilities and Limitations
There is also a section on how to collect information about your child’s abilities and limitations. Parents and guardians are often the first to recognize their children’s challenges and gifts, and can help the school to gather the information about your child that the school will need to make good decisions about your child’s education.

This section of the website will also provide you with more detailed information on . . .

The IPRC Process
The identification and classroom placement of students with special needs;

The IPRC Appeal Process
Your rights to request reviews and appeal these identification and classroom placement decisions; and

Individual Education Plans (The IEP)
The process of developing an Individual Education Plan for your child.

Supreme Court finds Lack of Educational Program Discriminatory

In November 2012 the Supreme Court of Canada released the decision of Moore v. British Columbia (Education). [2012] S.C.J. No. 61 2012 SCC 61. Court File No. 34040, 34041.

The Court found that Jeffrey Moore, a student with dyslexia, had been denied meaningful access to the educational programs he needed, and as such was discriminated against in a manner that could not be reasonably justified.

Here is a link to the decision:

http://www.ldao.ca/wp-content/uploads/Jeffrey-Moore-Supreme-Court-decision-2012.pdf