Guide for parents
Getting school accommodations in Canada
Accommodations change how your child learns or shows what they know. Here's how to ask, province by province.
What an accommodation is
- A change in how your child learns or is tested, like extra time, a quiet room, or movement breaks.
- The learning goals usually stay the same.
- A formal plan writes these down so every teacher knows.
The plan has different names
- BC: Individual Education Plan (IEP). BC inclusive education policy
- Ontario: Individual Education Plan (IEP). An IPRC meeting can formally identify a student, but an IEP can be made without one. Ontario special education
- Alberta: Individualized Program Plan (IPP). Alberta inclusive education
- Guides for other provinces are coming.
Who to ask
- Your child's classroom teacher.
- The school's learning support, resource or special education teacher.
- The principal or vice-principal, if things stall.
What to bring
- A short note on where school is hard and what helps at home.
- Work samples or report card comments.
- Any assessment report you choose to share. You can ask what the school actually needs.
- Your questions, written down.
Accommodations to ask about
- Extra time on tests and assignments
- A quieter place to write tests
- Seating away from distractions
- Movement breaks or a fidget tool
- Instructions in writing as well as out loud
- Chunked assignments with check-ins
- Use of technology, like speech-to-text
After the meeting
- Ask for a copy of the plan.
- Ask when it will be reviewed. Plans are usually reviewed during the year.
- Check in with your child: is it helping, and does anything feel awkward?
In the US
US public schools use a 504 Plan (accommodations) or an IEP (specialized instruction under IDEA). Understood.org explains both.
More help
- CADDAC: ADHD in school
- LDAO and LDAC for learning disability advocacy
- Talking to your child's teacher
This guide shares general information. It is not medical advice and this site does not diagnose ADHD. More guides