special needs

This document is a conceptual framework. Its purpose is to:

• assist the school system in  meeting its obligations under the Constitution Act, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the  BC Human Rights Code, the  Multiculturalism Act, the  Official Languages Act, the  Employment Equity Act, and the  School Act; and
• assist the  school system in  its ongoing efforts to create and maintain learning and working environments that are responsive to the  diverse social  and cultural needs of the  communities it serves.

This framework document describes key concepts, references guiding legislation and includes important implications for policies, strategies and initiatives in the school system related to:

• honouring diversity and promoting human rights
• preventing discrimination, harassment and violence
• responding to incidents of discrimination, harassment or violence when they occur

It is designed to assist in:

• reviewing existing policies and practices to ensure they are consistent with legislation
• enhancing existing policies and practices to ensure that they address diversity
• developing or implementing new  policies and practices to directly address the  diverse needs of the  people served by the  school system

Many parents are not sure what to expect at an Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting. When they meet school staff on behalf of their child, they may feel vulnerable or even frightened. Often, they don’t know what to do and are not clear about their role in the process. In this guide, our focus is to help you understand how an IEP meeting works and how you and your child, working together with the school, can get the most out of this process for the benefit of your child. You know more about your child than anyone else. The school needs this information to tailor its teaching to your child’s way of learning. A good IEP brings together your knowledge about your child with the school’s knowledge about teaching. The IEP meeting will produce a plan of what the school will do to teach your child and help her succeed.

BCCPAC is pleased to provide this valuable resource in several languages. Every effort has been made to ensure these translations are correct. If you find an error, please let us know by contacting the office.

Individual Education Plan Guide - English 2014

Individual Education Plan Guide - Arabic 2014

Individual Education Plan Guide - Chinese 2014

Individual Education Plan Guide - Korean 2014

Individual Education Plan Guide - Punjabi 2014

Individual Education Plan Guide - Russian 2014

Individual Education Plan Guide - Spanish 2014

Ministry of Education page on Special Needs with Resources, Policy and Cross Governement Initiatives.