Identifying support services

Find out what developmental, educational, or mental health services are available in your community—and identify which might help support your child’s needs outside of school. In British Columbia, most special education designations require not just a diagnosis, but evidence that the child is receiving support from a professional outside of school. This might include

• counselling or therapy
• occupational or speech-language support
• developmental assessments
• paediatric medical care
• behavioural services
• community or non-profit programming

These external services are often used to justify in-school supports—even if your child’s needs are clearly visible. Identifying one or more support options, and documenting your efforts, is often necessary to unlock accommodations or funding.

How to use this strategy

Start by learning what’s available in your area:

• Ask your school or learning support teacher about common referral options
• Book an appointment with your doctor to request a referral or assessment
• Reach out to Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) or your local child development centre
• Join online groups for families with similar experiences
• Talk to other parents about what helped them
• Find values-aligned services, such as neurodiversity affirming counselling services

You don’t need to commit to everything at once. A single intake appointment, a waitlist confirmation, or a consultation letter can often meet the school’s criteria. You are building a record that shows your child’s needs are real—and being taken seriously.

What to watch out for

Many families fall into the trap of being too conscientious. In an effort to do everything right, they book multiple appointments a week—only to find themselves overwhelmed, exhausted, and burning through time, money, or emotional energy they can’t afford to spare.

When I first started this process, I booked a midweek therapy slot without a second thought. It wasn’t until the calendar filled up that I realized we had created a second job—one with no benefits, no flexibility, and no clear endpoint. Now, I ask what’s available next month. I space things out. Because this is a marathon, not a sprint.

You do not need to fix everything right now.

You do not need to exhaust your child in the name of support.
And you do not need to prove your worth as a parent by how many professionals you can fit into a single week.

Support should feel like support—not a burden. If it doesn’t, you can pause, decline, or reschedule.