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Consultation must come first

If they say: We’ve already decided what supports will be in place.

Say: Parents don’t hold veto power, but we must be consulted before decisions are made. My input ensures the plan reflects my child’s actual needs.

Legal grounding: Hewko confirms that consultation must occur before placement or IEP decisions, reinforced by Ministry Orders and the provincial Mandate.

Parents are often looped in after decisions have already been made—presented with a finalised IEP, an already-executed placement change, or a support plan they didn’t help shape. But the legal requirement is clear: consultation must happen before decisions are made, and the input of families must be taken seriously in shaping educational programming.

Key takeaways

  1. Consultation must precede implementation
    Families are legally entitled to be consulted before a placement or IEP is finalized—not after. Consultation is not a post-decision formality.
  2. Parental insight informs what works
    Parents carry essential knowledge about how a child learns, what causes distress, and what supports have proven effective. Their role is substantive, not symbolic.
  3. Legal authority backs your participation
    The School Act, Ministry Orders, and human rights case law (Hewko, 2006) all confirm that consultation is mandatory—not optional or discretionary.

Learn more

Part 4: Duty to Accommodate – Duty to Consult
by Kim Block, Speaking Up

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