York Region District School Board

To request an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) at York Region District School Board, submit a written request to your child's principal. On your written request, the principal must refer your child to an IPRC (O. Reg. 181/98, s. 14(1)(b)). Within 15 days, the principal must acknowledge the request in writing, give you the board's parents' guide, and tell you approximately when the IPRC will meet (s. 14(6)). The committee will review assessments, observe your child, and determine if they qualify for an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) exceptionality. Parents have the right to attend, bring representatives, and appeal the decision to the Ontario Special Education Tribunal. YRDSB's Special Education department can be reached at 905-884-2044.

YRDSB offers three primary placement options for students with ASD exceptionality: (1) Regular class with indirect or resource support, the student remains in a general education classroom with accommodations and modifications in the IEP; (2) Regular class with partial withdrawal, the student receives specialized instruction in a resource room for specific subjects or skills; (3) Self-contained ASD class, a smaller, specialized classroom designed for students who require intensive, structured support. The IPRC determines placement based on educational needs and parental input. Placement can be reviewed annually or upon parent request.

YRDSB allocates Educational Assistants (EAs) based on student need as documented in the IEP and determined through the IPRC process. EA support is not automatic with an ASD identification, it must be supported by documented functional needs. Families should ensure their child's IEP clearly describes the specific supports required (e.g., safety monitoring, communication facilitation, behaviour support) to strengthen the case for EA time allocation. EA hours are reviewed annually alongside the IEP.

Kinark Child and Family Services operates school-based autism services across York Region as part of the Ontario Autism Program (OAP). Kinark clinicians, including Board Certified Behaviour Analysts (BCBAs) and behaviour therapists, can provide consultation to school teams, support IEP goal development, and deliver school-based ABA therapy. Families must be registered with the OAP through AccessOAP and request school-based services. Kinark's York Region office can coordinate with both YRDSB and York Catholic DSB schools.

SEAC (Special Education Advisory Committee) is a legislated committee that advises the YRDSB Board of Trustees on special education matters. It includes parent representatives from recognized associations including Autism Ontario. SEAC meetings are open to the public and held monthly during the school year at YRDSB head office in Aurora. Parents can attend meetings, review Special Education Plans, and advocate for systemic improvements. Contact YRDSB Special Education at 905-884-2044 to learn about upcoming SEAC meetings and parent representative opportunities.

Yes. York Region has large Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), South Asian (Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil), and Korean speaking communities. YRDSB offers interpretation and translation services for IEP and IPRC meetings upon request, families should notify the school at least 5 business days in advance. The YRDSB Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement department can connect families with appropriate language supports. Community organizations including the Chinese Autism Parent Association of Canada (based in Markham) offer peer support and navigation assistance in Mandarin and Cantonese.

York Hills Centre for Children, Youth and Families is a mental health agency serving York Region that provides clinical services including assessment, therapy, and consultation for children with autism and co-occurring mental health needs. York Hills offers school-based mental health programs and can collaborate with YRDSB school teams on complex cases. Referrals are typically made through the school principal, the family physician, or self-referral. York Hills is not an OAP provider but complements autism education services by addressing anxiety, mood, and behavioural challenges that affect school participation.

Both York Region District School Board (YRDSB, secular public) and York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB, Catholic separate) are governed by the same provincial Education Act and must follow identical IPRC and IEP requirements. Both boards offer ASD exceptionality identification and placement options. The key differences are school culture and geography, YCDSB operates in the same municipalities but serves families who choose Catholic education. Families can choose either board regardless of religious affiliation in most cases. Both boards access Kinark school-based services and the OAP framework.