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Fierce is fair

If they say: You’re being too intense.

Say: I’m showing up for my child. Human rights law protects my right to advocate fiercely—and it protects my child’s right to be supported.

Legal grounding: See L.B. v. Toronto District School Board, 2015 HRTO 1622 – “fierce advocacy” must not and cannot prevent a board from fulfilling its duty.

This entry draws from Kim Block’s Part 5: Duty to Accommodate – Duty to Facilitate, which affirms a foundational legal truth: parental passion, frustration, or persistence cannot be used as an excuse to stop supporting a child. The Human Rights Tribunal has explicitly stated that “fierce advocacy” is a protected and expected part of ensuring students with disabilities receive what they need.

Key takeaways

Your tone does not disqualify your child
Whether you speak gently or with intensity, the law protects your child’s right to an education free from discrimination. The school’s discomfort with your approach is irrelevant to their legal duty.
Assertiveness signals investment, not obstruction
A parent who knows their child well and speaks with urgency is participating—this does not violate the expectation of collaboration.
Judging a parent’s tone is a deflection
The law recognises that families often come to the table having already endured harm. The school must respond to the content of concerns, not the emotion behind them.