Under the Ontario Education Act, every student with special needs is entitled to an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and access to an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC)
School Support
Plain-language school guidance, the record to keep, and the next step available to your family.
Whatever your school problem is, one habit helps: put it in writing. Verbal promises have no date, owner, or appeal route. Dated records are often useful when you escalate to a superintendent, Ombudsman, or tribunal. Use three steps. Summarize the conversation. Send it by email. Ask the school to correct anything that differs from its understanding. Log incidents the day they happen. Save everything, dated, in one place.
Start the incident log today
Use the log on this site (it stays on your device) or any dated notebook. Consistency beats perfection.
Confirm your last conversation
Send the written-confirmation letter for the most recent verbal conversation about your child — today, while you remember it.
Ask for responses in writing
End every request with: "Please reply in writing." It sets the norm.
One folder, everything dated
Email folder or binder — one place, chronological, with dates on everything.
Thank you for the conversation. I will send a short email with my understanding of what we discussed. If anything differs from your understanding, please reply in writing within five business days. Going forward, please confirm decisions about my child in writing.
This habit is the foundation for every rung of the ladder — start here whatever the problem.
See the full escalation ladderSOURCE
Ontario Human Rights Commission • 2018-03-01
SOURCE
Government of Ontario • 2024-01-01
SOURCE
Ombudsman Ontario • 2015-09-01
SOURCE
Tribunals Ontario • 2026-07-04
SOURCE
Tribunals Ontario • 2026-07-04
Last updated: 2026-07-04
Evidence on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
Under the Ontario Education Act, every student with special needs is entitled to an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and access to an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC)
91,974
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
1 in 50
According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, about 1 in 50 children and youth aged 1 to 17 in Canada had an autism diagnosis
22.5%
Only 20,711 children have active funding agreements (22.5%), less than one in four
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism. Timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement