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Public Board
Special education and autism accommodation resources for families in Brantford and counties of Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk.
GEDSB board website · Verified 2026-08-10
Board profile fields and enrollment estimates are from the existing school board record. Contact the board for current details. Source: GEDSB board website. · Updated
In brief
Contact the school principal in writing. The school must convene an IEP team meeting within 30 days of your written request. Be specific about which goals or accommodations you want reviewed.
If the school does not resolve the issue, contact the board's Special Education department or Superintendent of Education directly. Reference your written correspondence with the school.
The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) is a public body that meets regularly and accepts public input. Depute at a SEAC meeting to raise systemic concerns at the board level.
If accommodation is denied or the board is unresponsive, file a formal complaint with the board's superintendent. If the pattern continues, file with the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) under the duty to accommodate.
A written request gives the school a clear question and a date. Start a letter, or find the right board contact.
What rights do autistic students have in Ontario schools?
In Ontario, students with autism have the right to an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and reasonable accommodations without a formal diagnosis, based on need. Parents can request an IPRC meeting to identify their child as 'exceptional', guaranteeing specific rights to support services.
Source: Ontario Education Act · Open source record
Can my child get an IEP without an autism diagnosis?
You do NOT need a formal medical diagnosis to get an IEP (Individual Education Plan) in Ontario schools. Write to your principal requesting an IPRC meeting, state you have a 'medical referral in progress,' and focus on identifying your child's needs rather than diagnostic labels.
Source: Ontario Education Act
Can autistic students get an educational assistant (EA)?
School boards may assign educational assistants (EAs) to autistic students based on needs identified through the IEP process. How EAs are allocated varies by board and school, so ask the principal how support is assigned for your child.
Source: Ontario Ministry of Education — special education · Open source record
Sources on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
Under Ontario Regulation 181/98, an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) can place a student in a special education program. Once that placement starts, the principal has 30 school days to make sure an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is completed. Ministry policy (PPM 140) also lets boards write IEPs for students who have not been formally identified by an IPRC
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Founder & Autism Advocate
Lived experience: Parent of autistic child navigating OAP system