School-Age Children with Autism

Children with autism require a range of support to succeed within the public school system. Families are concerned when they must constantly advocate for their child’s right to an appropriate education. The following links provide a good starting point to gain a better understanding of the British Columbia school system and have relevance for those advocating to protect the rights of children with special needs to access a meaningful education, no matter where they live.

• The Essentials of Advocacy: A Parent’s Guide to Advocating for their Child with Special Needs
  An online video presentation by Deborah Pugh, Executive Director, ACT – Autism Community Training
• The BC Education System (pdf)
  Chapter 6 of the Autism Manual for B.C.
• The BC Education System – An Introduction for Parents of Students with ASD (pdf)
  Chapter 7 of the Autism Manual for B.C.
• The Role of Parental Advocacy in Navigating the B.C. School System (pdf)
  Chapter 8 of the Autism Manual for B.C.
• Education, Integration, Inclusion: Key Information for Parents of Children with Special Needs
  Online video presentation by Dr. Suzanne Jacobsen, recorded October 22, 2011.
• Creating a Student Profile of your Child

In addition, a keyword search for “education” in the Autism Information Database, generates over 400 links to resources from Ontario, the U.S. and the U.K., in multiple languages. ACT welcomes new resources that will support families and professionals learning from other communities – please submit here www.actcommunity.ca/submitir/